Officials, researchers, development partners and global health specialists met in Abakaliki for the unveiling of Ebonyi State’s One Health Initiative, a coordinated approach that connects human health, animal health and environmental well-being.
The launch was supported by the Evidence-Informed Policy Approaches for One Health (OH-EVI Project), in collaboration with Germany’s Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute (FLI), the African Institute for Health Policy and Health Systems (AIHPHS), and the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences (DUFUHS).
Ebonyi has historically battled outbreaks such as Lassa fever and cholera, making this initiative timely and critical for improving disease prevention and response.
At the event, Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru said the One Health framework fits with his administration’s core policy goals. He warned that past crises like Ebola and COVID-19 exposed weaknesses in preparedness, and stressed the need for systems that can manage future health threats.
Representatives pointed out that rapid urban growth, environmental changes and increased contact between people and animals have raised the risk of disease transmission, making multisector cooperation vital to effective public health security.
The launch also featured the presentation of an evidence brief on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) aimed at guiding policy decisions and fostering joint action ahead of more technical discussions. Partners praised the brief for grounding policy in science and research.
Speakers said Ebonyi is among the first states in Nigeria to tailor the national One Health vision at the state level, positioning it ahead of others in implementing strategies that improve surveillance, detection and response to health threats.
The forum drew leaders from health, agriculture and environment ministries, as well as primary healthcare and health insurance agencies, underlining the multi-agency effort required to make the initiative work.