The International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) has established a One Health Centre in Africa (OHRECA) to enhance the health of people, animals and their shared environment in the continent. Funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) the centre will develop capacity and support One Health network initiatives across Africa and develop pathways from research evidence to government policies to practices on the ground. 

‘One Health’ is a collaborative, multi-sectorial and transdisciplinary approach that works at the regional, national and global levels to achieve optimal health for humans, animals and their shared environment. The One Health approach is particularly relevant in food safety, combating antibiotic resistance, and controlling zoonoses.

Through ILRI’s well-established and ongoing research for development activities in emerging infectious diseases, controlling neglected zoonoses, food safety and reducing antimicrobial resistance, the One Health centre in Africa will link national and international stakeholders to build capacity, through research, education and outreach by drawing on the state-of-the-art research facilities of several centres of excellence operating within ILRI. These include ILRI’s Mazingira Centre, whose work is focusing on the environment and climate change at the livestock interface, the CGIAR Antimicrobial Resistance Hub, a research for development partnership that is reducing agriculture-associated antimicrobial resistance and the Biosciences eastern and central Africa Hub, a platform that is increasing access to affordable world-class research facilities for capacity building, training and development. 

The One Health Research, Education and Outreach Centre in Africa (OHRECA), was launched when COVID-19, a zoonotic disease, has disrupted the world leading to the loss of life and crippling the global economy and a stark reminder for the need to work in a holistic manner with multiple sectors as the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and their shared environment. 

Visit the OHRECA website for more information.