World’s “One health Day” was organized in Zenica on 5th of November 2018. “One health” concept is the best way for improving health of people, animals, plants and environment. Leading position in promotion and One health approach of Institute for health and food safety od Zenica was underlined at this event. Institute for health and food safety Zenica, as leader in One health Concept in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Region, recognized importance and organized event regarding World’s One Health Day.
Many experts from different sectors and towns in Bosnia and Herzegovina participated and took active role at the round table called “One Health in B&H”. Main objective of this event was to show and underline importance of multisectoral approach to problems connected with health of people, animals, plants and environment safety.
Docentdr. Sabina Seric – Haracic who is Head of “One health studies” at Veterinary faculty of Sarajevo was main panelist at the event. She was fascinated with “pioneer” but also leading steps and activities of Institute for health and food safety Zenica which develops and implement One health concept in best way. At the daily basis it works through One health principles and respects joint approach to human health which is directly connected with health of animals, plants and environment safety.
Only this approach can give positive results and improve health.
“Only 5 Universities in Europe and nearly 40 in the world educate students about One health Concept. One of those is Sarajevo University, Veterinary faculty” said Mrs. Seric – Haracic. She also said that cooperation between health and veterinary sector is necessary but also with all other sectors/subjects/institutions which are directly connected to health such as inspections, institutes, laboratories and others. All those stakeholders, if they work together, can contribute to the faster, better and comprehensive results which improves epidemiological and health situation but also makes economic savings in the society.
Mr. Senad Huseinagic, director of Institute for health and food safety of Zenica, presented how One health Concept is incorporated in work of the Institute and which benefits and advantages it shows in daily activities and results.
Institute’s One health Team made presentation “Case study – Brucellosis in B&H” as one of the zoonosis that is huge health problem at the moment. Through detailed analysis of the problems and main stakeholders in One health circle, team showed how important is to cooperate together, create joint system and share information, fasten joint action and make unbreakable chain of the public health, care for human wellbeing, animal and plant health and environment as precondition for reducing epidemic and disease prevention.
One health Initiative is introduced as global Initiative. Institute’s functional One Health Centre was also presented to participants.
This is the first time in Bosnia and Herzegovina that World’s One Health day was recognized and some event at that topic was organized.
Representatives of national, entities, cantonal Ministries of health, agriculture, environment, inspections, family health care institutions, hospitals, veterinary stations, universities, private companies which produce or sell meat and milk products was participants at the round table.
Institute for health and food safety Zenica is the first this type institution in B&H that merged two Institutes – Institute for public health and Veterinary Institute and soon also Institute for plants safety. Employees are specialists in different areas such as doctors, veterinarians, engineers of food technologies, chemistry, microbiology and others. According to this Institute is already institution which works under One health principles and only institution of this kind in Bosnia and Herzegovina and Region.
One health is approach to the human health at local, regional, national and global level which aims to achieve optimally health of people and animals, plants and environment safety, recognizing and respecting their unbreakable connections.