The connection between the future of Gorongosa National Park and the health and well-being of the people and communities living nearby is at the heart of the Park’s human, wildlife and sustainable development programs.
Gorongosa Veterinarian Mércia Angela carried the message to the 8th World One Health Congress, where the same principle is central to One Health: An integrated and collaborative approach is essential for environmental health and human and wildlife survival.
It was the first time the Congress, held Sept. 20 to 23 in Cape Town, was hosted on African soil.
Attendees explored health holistically—spanning human, animal, environmental, and plant health, as well as food safety and security. Discussions focused on pathogen surveillance, antimicrobial resistance, climate change, pandemic preparedness, and capacity building.
Angela co-leads most field operations involving lion, wild dog, leopard and elephant for Gorongosa National Park. She said she is grateful for the opportunity to attend the Congress and learn about different approaches to One Health.
“Attending this conference helped me realize the challenges facing Africa are universal,” she said. “What impacted me the most is knowing education and raising awareness of One Health is one of the strategies for implementation.”
Angela’s participation, sponsored by the Food and Agriculture Organization for the United Nations and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), marks the beginning of a partnership to build up the Park’s capacity to meet future health challenges.
“The One Health approach is essential as we work to improve human, animal, and environmental health, and to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging infectious diseases,” said Monica Dea, a Global Health Security Technical Advisor for USAID.
In addition to offering a valuable opportunity to examine global health and policy through an African perspective, the Congress provided a platform for early-career scientists and policymakers, with a strong emphasis on Africa’s role in shaping the future of One Health.
