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.