Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia, is home to 25% of the countries urban population. In Addis Ababa, the urban land expansion in response to urban growth, and the exchange of services and goods between urban and suburban population is becoming inadequate, leading to growing urban poverty and increasing health risks for the population. Water supply and sanitation, waste management and housing are inadequate. Forest wood-based domestic energy use, as well as uncontrolled emissions from mobile and fixed sources, has endangered the urban environment. Most people in Addis Ababa are affected by the lack of reliable access to potable water, sanitation, and waste management. Rivers in and around Addis Ababa, for example, Akaki
flow through the densely populated residential, commercial, and industrial areas, and are highly polluted by discharges from tanneries, breweries, wineries, battery factories, slaughterhouses, hospitals, garages, and sewage released directly into the river before or after partial treatment. Domestic wastewater, human excreta, and surface run-off contribute to urban river pollution. The urban-suburban community use contaminated water for irrigation, livestock production, recreation, and other domestic purposes. Environmental pollution including water bodies poses potentially great health risks to humans, animal and the environment, which needs a holistic and integrated solution through the one-health approach. Urban and suburban agriculture plays an important role in cities economy, food and livelihood systems.
To strengthen capacity to address these challenges, the Addis Ababa University has launched a multidisciplinary MSc. And PhD graduate programs with the support of NORAD under NORHED II Project. The aims of both programs is to equip students with the knowledge, attitude and skills needed to address health challenges at the human-animal-environment interface through interdisciplinary research modalities focusing on zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance and environmental changes as key drivers of One Health. Embracing the One Health approach in urban areas is the foundation for building a resilient health systems and safeguarding the well-being of the future generations.
The proposed conference will pave a way to various stakeholders to network and devise implementation measures through one health approach for prevention, detection and treatment of diseases and their impact to foster one health.It enabled discussing major One Health challenges, as well as sharing research data and policy developments. Above all, it provided a great opportunity to look at global One Health science and policy through an African lens. Through an open call for abstracts, notable work from distinguished scientists and opinion leaders was disseminated at the worlds largest forum dedicated to advancing the One Health agenda and community.
Conference Background
The concept of One Health recognizes that the health of humans, animals, and the environment is interconnected. Emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and climate change are just a few of the complex challenges that illustrate the need for a holistic approach to health. To alleviate this, collaboration across disciplines and sectors at various (local, national, and global) levels is needed. The integration of veterinary, medical, environmental, and social sciences allows for a comprehensive understanding of how health threats emerge and spread, and how they can be prevented or mitigated.
Read more...
Objective of the OHW Conference
The main objective of the OHW conference is to foster interdisciplinary collaboration, knowledge and experience sharing to address complex health challenges at the intersection of human, animal, and environmental health with focus on One Health and Water.
Specific Objectives within this framework, the conference are:
- To showcase cutting-edge research and innovative practices that contribute to One Health and Water
- To advocate for policies that support interdisciplinary approaches to health
- To promote collaboration among professionals from diverse fields working on one health, such as public health, veterinary medicine and environmental sciences and social sciences
Sub-Themes
The conference will have the following subthemesRead More...
Target Audience
Researchers, academicians, practitioners, policymakers, students, NGOs and utilities will attend the conference. Over 200 participants from all over the world are expected to attend the conference, where scientists, engineers, water experts, policymakers, civil society, and government officials will interact with each other. The Conference will help set directions that the science community should take in order to address one health-related challenge and develop innovative solutions for the urban environment.
Conference Format
The format of the conference will be keynote speech, (panel discussions), oral and poster sessions.
Expected Outcomes and Impact
By bringing together the stakeholders of one health such as researchers, academicians, practitioners, line ministries and NGOs working on one Health, the conference will create a collaborative environment where knowledge and experience sharing is enhanced and integrated strategies can be developed to tackle health issues that span humans, animals, and the environment. The conference is expected to create/increase the awareness of urban community on the importance of maintaining urban health through integrated efforts across human, animal and environmental health sectors.
Plenary and Keynote Speakers
The organizing committee will invite prominent scientists to deliver plenary lectures and key note speeches. Confirmed speakers will regularly be updated on the conference website (www.OHW-2025).
