Vietnam partners propose One Health platform to translate research to policy and practice

In an effort to step up control of zoonotic diseases and other health issues, the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Vietnam National Institute of Veterinary Research (NIVR) and the Hanoi University of Public Health (HUPH) have discussed the possibility of setting up a research platform that will translate One Health research into practice, mobilize resources, research zoonotic diseases and other animal and human health issues in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

The initiative was discussed at a workshop on 19 November 2017 in Hanoi where ILRI, NIVR and HUPH reviewed the achievements of a One Health partnership comprising the three organizations and discussed the future of One Health and their partnership modalities in the country.

Dieter Schillinger, ILRI assistant director general–biosciences, encouraged the platform to also focus on biosecurity and vaccination. He also called on the partners to adopt a multidisciplinary approach which would help the platform connect with more people and influence health policy.

Dieter Schillinger, ILRI assistant director general–biosciences makes an opening speech at the meeting (photo credit: ILRI/Chi Nguyen).

ILRI, NIVR and HUPH have been working together for the last 10 years. Their partnership has centred on boosting One Health capacity development and influencing policy in Vietnam and Southeast Asia. Strengthening One Health research is now the focus of the partnership with the aim of advancing the knowledge of One Health and generating evidence from the country.

From right: Pham Duc Phuc, director, Centre of Public Health and Ecosystem Research, HUPH; Vo Ngan Giang, program officer, FAO Vietnam; Pham Thi Ngoc, Nguyen Viet Khong, deputy director, NIVR; Dieter Schillinger, assistant director general, ILRI; and Hung Nguyen, regional representative for East and Southeast Asia, ILRI (photo credit: ILRI/Chi Nguyen).

Nguyen Viet Khong, deputy director of NIVR, said the proposed research platform would ensure sustainability and institutionalising of One Health in the country if supported by relevant partners. The platform will focus on issues of food safety, antimicrobial resistance and occupational health.

According to Hung Nguyen, ILRI regional representative for East and Southeast Asia, such a platform would need to work closely with the Vietnam One Health Partnership (OHP)—a formal One Health platform initiated by the Vietnam government—to facilitate the translation of research findings to policy and practice.

Read more about One Health activities by ILRI in Vietnam:

One Health partnership to control zoonoses in Vietnam launched

One Health, many tools for forecasting climate-sensitive diseases in Vietnam

The nexus between One Health, nutrition and food safety