Synergies between Human, Animal and Plant Health

Abstract

Background: The veterinarian Calvin Schwabe described as One Medicine linkages of veterinary medicine and human health that strengthen cooperation between human and animal health professionals and improve provision of health services. The terms One Health and EcoHealth were coined for the interplay of human, animal and ecosystem health. Healthy plants are essential for healthy animals and humans, but plant health and its linkages to human and animal health have rarely been described or trialed. Plantwise, an initiative led by CABI, helps establish community-based plant clinics to improve food security and reduce crop losses. Harmonization of the three health services might increase performance and health status of humans, animals and plants, with positive socioeconomic consequences particularly in remote rural areas. Aims: To describe the human, animal and plant health systems in rural Uganda and identify synergies and benefits of their closer cooperation. Methods: A systematic review on the structure and mandates of the human, animal and plant health systems to conceptualize a framework between them. The main linkages are described qualitatively by stakeholders (smallholder farmers, NGOs, researchers, health workers, administrative staff) in a rural context of Africa within a transdisciplinary approach. The selection of districts is based on agricultural livelihoods and an active network of plant health clinics. Identified synergies are evaluated and quantified by a questionnaire survey. A trial to test the most prominent joint intervention will be outlined. Expected results: An evaluation of synergies between human, animal and plant health systems that can be tested to describe benefits of closer cooperation. An established shared framework on these that facilitates the identification of further practical linkages. This approach should be valid for Uganda and any environment where smallholders depend on extension services for the health of household, livestock and crops. The framework and survey results will be presented.