CAIRO – The Regional Coordinator of the One Health Initiative at the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) on Sunday hailed Egypt as a regional pioneer in implementing the One Health concept.
Addressing the launch ceremony of veterinary intervention guidelines, Ahmed Saad explained that the One Health concept brings together five major international organisations, including FAO, the World Health Organisation (WHO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to coordinate comprehensive health responses to address complex epidemiological and environmental challenges.
The partnership seeks to develop integrated policies to combat zoonotic diseases, which studies indicate that 75% of them are transmitted from animals to humans, he added.
Several health and veterinary leaders, as well as representatives from the World Health Organisation and the Egyptian Health Council, attended the event.
Saad said the FAO plays a pivotal role in supporting Egypt in the field of veterinary food security through initiatives that include supporting farms, developing veterinary infrastructure, and strengthening animal disease surveillance to reduce health risks to humans and the environment alike.
Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Mostafa el-Sayyad reported remarkable figures achieved by Egypt in the aquaculture sector.
He confirmed that the country now has 7,500 fish farms and produces 1.6 million tons of fish annually, ranking sixth globally in fish farming production, first in Africa, and first globally in tilapia production through aquaculture.
