Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) – On 13–14 July, the government of Uzbekistan and the World Bank organized a high-level meeting with representatives of the five Central Asian states. The participants of the event represented ministries and departments responsible for human health, animal health, environment and agriculture. The discussions focused on strengthening regional cooperation in protecting food systems, preventing future pandemics, outbreaks of animal and human diseases, and antimicrobial resistance.

More than 50 participants from the countries of Central Asia and international organizations discussed the main directions of activity within the framework of the future Framework for Action for Central Asia on the implementation of the “One Health” approach. Among them are the heads of interested ministries, state committees and services of Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. The competence of these persons includes issues of agriculture and food safety, health care, sanitary and epidemiological control, veterinary medicine, livestock development and environmental protection.

The World Organization for Animal Health estimates that about 75% of all human infectious diseases are of animal origin. For example, SARS, Ebola, swine and bird flu, brucellosis and rabies. They are called "zoonoses". Of the five new human diseases that emerge each year, at least three are of animal origin.

Managing global health risks requires comprehensive collaboration across the livestock, environment and health sectors at national, regional and global levels. One Health is a coordinated approach that brings together these sectors to prevent, detect, respond and treat infectious diseases. It contributes to strengthening global health security and achieving concrete results in the field of social and economic development.

In Central Asia, the introduction of a One Health approach could help: (i) improve productivity and cross-border trade in animals and animal products; (ii) improved response to animal and human disease outbreaks; and (iii) sharing important animal and human health information collected by national surveillance systems and developing the modern infrastructure needed to respond to the above risks.

The purpose of the high-level meeting in Tashkent was to discuss measures for the practical application of the One Health approach in the countries of Central Asia. The event was held with the assistance of the World Bank and in close cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). These organizations promote regional and intersectoral cooperation to introduce the One Health approach to the regulation of human, animal health and the environment in Central Asia.

“The World Bank has been actively working in various sectors of the Central Asian states for over thirty years. We, among other things, finance multimillion-dollar projects in agriculture, health care and livestock development, which are being implemented by the governments of the countries of the region,” said Tatiana Proskuryakova, World Bank Regional Director for Central Asia, in her address to the participants of the high-level meeting in Tashkent. “Comprehensive implementation of the One Health approach in the region can only be implemented through high-level agreements and coordinated actions of the states of Central Asia. Thanks to our financial resources and experience in various socio-economic sectors, the World Bank is well positioned to help countries in the region achieve this goal. We will carry out this work in close cooperation with our national and international partners.”

The participants of the meeting analyzed the existing risks for animal and human health in Central Asia, including national experience in combating zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance, as well as in ensuring food safety. Existing barriers and opportunities for creating regional cooperation mechanisms in the field of preparing for future outbreaks of animal and human diseases, as well as the transboundary movement of animals and their products were considered.

The participants of the meeting discussed the preparation of the Framework Program of Action for Central Asia on the implementation of the One Health approach and the creation of working groups necessary for the implementation of this process. This document may include an action plan for the countries of the region to implement the One Health approach in relevant sectors, as well as a list of investments required for this at the national and regional levels.

The preparation of the Framework for Action may last until September 2023 and include high-level meetings, thematic seminars for employees of interested ministries and departments, as well as analytical work in relevant areas. The official start to the process of preparing the document can be given within the framework of the high-level ministerial meeting, which is proposed to be held in October 2022.