Papua New Guinea University of Natural Resources and Environment (PNG UNRE) has launched an initiative to develop a postgraduate program in One Health. This effort is in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), USAID, East New Britain Provincial Health Authority, and the National Department of Health. The program aims to integrate the One Health concept, which emphasizes the interconnectedness of animal, environmental, and human health.
The One Health framework is a globally recognized approach to managing health security. It is designed to prepare, prevent, detect, report, and respond to health threats that affect both humans and animals. The approach is seen as crucial for addressing health risks that cut across sectors.
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| PNG University Partners with WHO and Others for Postgraduate One Health Program |
To ensure the proposed program is comprehensive and relevant, PNG UNRE and its partners are hosting a Curriculum Development Stakeholder Engagement Workshop this week in Port Moresby. The workshop will bring together key stakeholders to discuss how best to structure the program to address various sectors.
Caretaker Secretary for the National Department of Agriculture and Livestock, Mrs. Regina Nukundj, spoke at the workshop, emphasizing the importance of the One Health approach for Papua New Guinea. She commended PNG UNRE for formalizing the concept through academic education, highlighting its role in building long-term capacity and sustainability in managing health threats.
Mrs. Nukundj also noted that the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the need for coordinated efforts across sectors, particularly agriculture, to mitigate health risks. She stressed the critical role agriculture plays in health security, as it is often at the source of potential health threats. Strengthening these capacities, she added, is key to preventing future pandemics.
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