One Health program rolling out across South-East Asia

The ongoing pandemic has reminded the world that human health is inextricably linked to our surrounding environment and everything in it.

With 75% of new and emerging infectious diseases being zoonotic—capable of spreading from animals to people—achieving optimal human health demands equal investment into understanding how the health of animals and the wider environment shapes broader health security.

In a co-investment partnership, ACIAR and Canada’s International Development Research Centre (IDRC) are funding a new research program across South-East Asia that will promote a collaborative and multi-sector approach to benefit the health of humans, animals, and the environment.

The ACIAR/IDRC Research Program on One Health (AIRPOH) is funding interventions that will demonstrate and promote the benefits of how a One Health approach can improve agrifood systems and overall health security.  

Taking a One Health approach means recognising that the health of people, animals and the environment are interconnected. Simply put, we cannot expect to be healthy if the agricultural systems from where we source our food and nutrition are broken and underfunded.

Throughout South-East Asia, animal production systems are rapidly expanding in size and intensity, yet the animal health systems in place to monitor animal health, detect and diagnose disease and treat sick livestock are lacking adequate capacity and are under-resourced.

Additionally, the fast-changing nature of land-use throughout the region especially in agricultural systems, coupled with the worsening impacts of a climate change, are placing further strain on ecological systems.

The increased demand and stress on production systems without adequate supporting infrastructure to ensure their sustainability represent major threats to human health.

The role of agricultural and forest landscapes on human and environmental health in Cambodia

Led by Dr Kimchhin Sok at the Royal University of Agriculture in Cambodia, the project will examine the impact of agrichemical use on human and environmental health and investigate the importance of forest plants in the diet and health of the Cambodian people.

Findings from this research then will be used to inform government of Cambodia about the importance of forest conservation and the impact of chemical use by highlighting how both contribute to the health and wellbeing of local people. Read more about the project.

Enhancing livestock through One Health assessment in Indonesia, Laos and the Philippines 

Led by Dr Rico Ancog, University of the Philippines Los Baños — in close collaboration with Prof Dr Wayan T Artama, Gadjah Mada University in Indonesia and Dr Vannaphone Putthana at the National University of Laos — the project will analyse the connection between animal health, the economics of livestock production, and environmental and public health.

The research team will seek to identify the socio-economic drivers that links the animal-human-animal interfaces at the local and national levels that will help underpin a collaborative and unified action in South-East Asia. Read more about the project.  

Policy support to the Philippines’ National Surveillance and Control Programs

Led by Dr Yusuf Sucol, University of the Philippines Los Baños, the project aims to update Philippines’ research evidence and novel policy support to its national surveillance and control programs on African Swine Fever, Avian Influenza, and Antimicrobial Resistance.

The initiative will strengthen the country’s ecosystem and national development roadmap for food animal and agriculture, public health and environment using the global One Health socio-economic and ecological system assessment approach. Read more about the project.

Reducing brucellosis transmission in Timor-Leste

Led by Dr Shawn Ting at the Menzies School of Health Research, this project will identify risk factors for bovine brucellosis transmission and facilitate implementation of evidence-based brucellosis control measures in Timor-Leste using a participatory and One Health approach.

Cattle are kept by many households in Timor-Leste and are considered to be a species with high economic and sociocultural value. However, bovine brucellosis is prevalent in local cattle in Timor-Leste and has been identified as a trade barrier for the movement of cattle from Timor-Leste to Indonesia. Despite the presence of bovine brucellosis, there are no control programmes for brucellosis in Timor-Leste, and most smallholder farmers are unaware of this disease affecting reproductive performance of their animals and the potential for the disease to become zoonotic.

Bovine brucellosis is a priority condition for research and action in Timor-Leste, recognised in the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Performance of Veterinary Services and World Health Organisation (WHO) Joint External Evaluation reports and in Timor-Leste’s own One Health strategic objectives. Read more about the project.