The African Union (AU) has hosted a Technical Workshop to develop its Digital One Health platform, held in Naivasha, Kenya, as part of Africa’s efforts to strengthen health governance and management.
Held from February 26th to 28th, 2024, the event was executed under the African Union One Health Data Alliance Africa Project, funded by BMZ and supported by GIZ. The Project falls under the jurisdiction of the Animal Health Unit at AU-IBAR. The workshop saw key stakeholders across Africa meeting to help propel the Digital One Health platform’s development.
Participants included members of the AU One Health Technical Working Group, One Health specialists, representatives from Regional Economic Communities, and vital partners such as ILRI, FAO, and GIZ. Over three days of collaboration, they worked to refine the platform prototype for targeted use-cases and finalise the proposed administrative structure.
The workshop builds on previous discussions and initiatives addressing complex health challenges in Africa. The concept of One Health, advocating the interconnectedness of humans, animals and the environment, has gained prominence. Recognising the need for coordinated action, the AU developed a Digital One Health platform for the continent.
Key outputs from prior meetings and workshops set the agenda for the Technical Workshop, resulting in several achievements, notably:
- Agreement on priority continental zoonoses informing use-case formulation.
- Identification and documentation of priority use cases based on user needs.
- Development of a prototype for the African Union Digital One Health platform.
- Agreement on the continental administrative structure.
The workshop provided a platform for stakeholders to refine both the platform prototype and administrative structure. Through collaboration and interdisciplinary cooperation, participants aimed to accelerate progress towards platform implementation.
As Africa faces health challenges exacerbated by climate change, urbanisation, and globalisation, the Digital One Health platform represents a critical step towards improving health outcomes across the continent.
By leveraging technology and fostering collaboration, this initiative holds the potential to drive positive change and promote well-being.
Source: APO Group
By Derrick Kafui Deti – Digital Economy Magazine
