One Health in the Argan Forest

On November, 3, we celebrated International One Health Day virtually in Morocco by organizing a high level round table with representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO),  the Moroccan Society of Nutrition, Health and Environment, and the International Agency for the Atomic Energy, with interviews on radios and the written press. 

Our objective was to sensibilize people in Morocco, from civil society to government and institutions, on our action and the need to adopt a multi-disciplinary One Health approach in order to face the inter-connected  health, climatic and environmental challenges. With the latest scientific evidence showing the very clear linkages between biodiversity loss, our consumption and production patterns, and illegal wildlife trade with the emergence of new pathogens, it has become indisputable that a One Health approach needs to be adopted as soon as possible. The discussion was live on Facebook and reached more than 50,000 people, which shows how much people are interested in One Health now.

Our field One Health project in the argan forest was visionary in implementing a One Health approach well before the pandemic started and this approach is now established  as THE way forward. We are planning to resume our work in the field later on this month with the establishment of a first Village Garden for Aromatic and Medicinal Plants. This garden will be managed by a group of women from the village for improving families’ health, disseminating good practices about these plants and transmitting very valuable environmental knowledge to young generations.  This is #OneHealthInAction which cannot do without your support.

The pandemic has given us the most striking evidence that our health is inextricably linked to the health of animals and the health of the environment - the basis for the One Health approach that we have been implementing for years. It could not be clearer now that we must restore healthy environments and protect biodiversity, which means continuing our efforts to support communities living at the frontline of biodiversity conservation and climate change. If we don’t address the root causes of the pandemic, which are the loss of ecosystem functioning and biodiversity, then we are only treating the health and economic symptoms of the pandemic and will not reduce risks of another one emerging.

During the lockdown period in Morocco our activities have only been virtual, similar to the rest of the world. We nevertheless used this opportunity to organize a webinar on the importance of the One Health approach in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, which was attended by more than 300 participants. You can watch it on the following link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxTqTRVYi9M

We will resume our field work as soon as national regulations allow for project teams to move around and resume vital One Health education programs to reduce risks of disease transmission between animals and humans, an issue which has become the entire world's concern today.

Links:

• One Health webinar in Morocco