The Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in cooperation with the Ministry of Health is hosting a National Conference on applying a “One Health” approach to infectious disease risks in Viet Nam. Infectious diseases that cross from animals to humans such as SARS, avian influenza and HIV/AIDS can pose enormous risks to human health, livelihoods, trade, tourism and economic growth. Recent years have witnessed a significant increase in such emerging infectious diseases, and Southeast Asia has been identified has one of five key hotspots for emerging diseases worldwide.

Responding to such risks requires doctors, veterinarians and other professionals from a wide range of sectors to work together to apply a “One Health” approach to predict and identify emerging diseases in order to take timely and effective prevention and control actions.

The overall purpose of the Conference is to provide an opportunity for the Government of Viet Nam and its partners to highlight national One Health initiatives and take stock of progress and achievements over the previous period as well as ongoing constraints and areas requiring further efforts.

The Conference brings together nearly 200 high-level representatives and technical experts of Viet Nam’s ministries, e.g. MARD and MOH and other related national organizations; international partner agencies and donors, including FAO, WHO, USAID; research organizations and selected regional and provincial representatives as well as other stakeholders.