DILI, 06 december 2023 (TATOLI) – Menzies in collaboration with the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Forestry (MALFF), on tuesday, conducted a symposium titled: “One Health” Environment, Zoonosis and Antimicrobial Resistance”.
The symposium was supported by the Fleming Fund Country Grant to Timor-Leste through funds from the UK government. The objective of the Fleming Fund is to strengthen the surveillance system for antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Timor-Leste through a One Health approach.
MALFF National Veterinary Director, Joanita Bendita Jong, in her opening remarks, said: “The seminar theme “Environment, Zoonoses and Antimicrobial Resistance”, is timely as these are cross-cutting One Health issues that cannot be tackled individually within a single sector. It requires cooperation between animal health, environmental health, and human health to address these issues holistically”. Opening remarks were also shared by Karen Champlin, project manager with Menzies, Sudath Pires from WHO, and the event opened by Florindo Pinto Gonzaga, National Director of Prevention and Disease Control at MOH.
Champlin said that it was therefore important for veterinarians, doctors, scientists, health professionals, and epidemiologists to join forces to promote healthy lifestyles in Timor-Leste.
She said that the symposium give opportunities to MALFF and stakeholders to exchange information on the impacts and consequences of human and animal health emergencies.
Public health emergencies have high impacts in countries with weak health systems, inadequate preparedness, and inadequate surveillance
The event was held at JL villa, Aimutin, Dili on 5th december 2023, and was attended by 100 people from the human health, animal health, and environment sectors. Participants from MOH, MALFF, AIFEASA, Ministry of Tourism and Environment, WHO, Menzies, Maluk Timor, Wateraid, UNTL, and UNIDIL.
Presentations from Menzies, HNGV, National Health Laboratory, Diagnostic Vet lab, UNTL were well received on topics such as Salmonella, AMR trends in clinical isolates of waterborne diseases, Meliodosis, AMR results in chicken samples, Brucellosis, Rabies, prudent and appropriate use of antibiotics in hospitals, and knowledge of Veterinary Technicians about antibiotics.
Director Joanita Jong stated: “The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries is fully committed to supporting Timor-Leste to tackle the global and national public health challenge that zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance poses, but I am also asking everyone’s contribution here today, so that Timor-Leste remains healthy”.
Journalist: Jose Belarmino de Sa
Editor: Filomeno Martins
