FAO at the Geneva Health Forum 2022
GENEVA HEALTH FORUM – THE EFFECTIVE RESPONSE TO HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL EMERGENCIES THROUGH PEACE BUILDING
May 5, 2022 , 14h
Dominique Burgeon, Director FAO LOG participated in a a panel discussion on health and peace during the Global Health Forum (GHF) 2022.
The panel discussion was composed by
- Mr. Wahid Majrooh, Former Minister for Public Health, Afghanistan
- Dominique Burgeon Director, FAO Liaison Office at UN Geneva
- Elhadj As Sy Former Secretary General IFRC and
- Micaela Serafini International Committee of the Red Cross
Mrs Renée Lariviere, Senior Director of Programme Management, Interpeace facilitated the discussion on this panel.
Dominique Burgeon highlighted the work done by FAO in Emergences and Resilience in conflict areas in supporting agri-food systems production and sustainability, rehabilitation, and recovery.
Dominique Burgeon indicated that FAO with other partners including WOAH, WHO and UNEP are working on the development and implementation of a One Health Joint Plan of Action. This plan recognizes One Health as an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. It recognizes the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and inter-dependent.
Dominique Burgeon expressed that we cannot talk about peace without mentioning health of humans, animals, and environment. This is why One Health is relevant for this health and peace discussion. Most emerging infectious diseases of humans (more than 60%) are of zoonotic origin with the majority of these (approx. 70%) originating in wildlife. These threats are significantly increasing in frequency and severity over time with tremendous long-term impacts. Other examples of such high-impact epidemics are H5N1 Highly Pathogenic avian influenza in Asia and Africa; Ebola in West Africa; Lumpy skin disease in the Middle East and Europe; Rift valley fever in West and Eastern Africa; and PPR in Africa and Central Asia. But this is only the tip of the iceberg, most of these animal diseases continue or will continue to impact vulnerable communities in regions or zones in conflict and increasing poverty and food insecurity.
Another factor or driver is climate change that exacerbates the emergence and spread of animal diseases. Climate change has both direct and indirect impacts on agricultural productivity - through changing rainfall patterns, drought, flooding and the geographical redistribution of pests and diseases. Extreme climate events often cause disruptions to health services, infrastructure, and food market chains, which can cause overwhelming demand or blockage of supply, this has indirect impacts on animal health systems as well.
In his concluding remarks, Dominique Burgeon called for more attention in the One Health Concept and its implementation at country level in particular in conflict areas which is critical to maintain the availability, provision of health systems in local areas and strength community-based approaches involving local communities and to make more effective the use of existing and limited financial resources in conflict areas.
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