A two-day capacity-building training titled “Using One Health Approach for Disease Monitoring and Investigation, One Health Risk Communication, and the National Action Plan on Health Security Implementation” commenced today in Enugu State. The training is organized by L-PRES Enugu, with strong support from the Enugu State Government, and is targeted at One Health Officers across the state.
The workshop brings together professionals from the animal health, human health, and environmental sectors to strengthen collaboration and improve response strategies to public health threats. The training focuses on integrating the One Health approach into surveillance, risk communication, and the effective implementation of the National Action Plan on Health Security (NAPHS).
Day 1 featured interactive sessions on the fundamentals of the One Health concept, cross-sectoral disease surveillance techniques, and case-based exercises on outbreak investigation. Emphasis was placed on the importance of inter-agency coordination in preventing, detecting, and responding to health threats that intersect human, animal, and environmental health.
A key highlight of the opening session was the address by the Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture, Hon. Patrick Ubru, who spoke extensively on the commitment of the Enugu State Government, under the leadership of His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah, to the One Health initiative and livestock development. He reaffirmed the government’s support for strengthening disease prevention and control mechanisms and announced plans to bolster the livestock sector with a substantial funding commitment of ₦1 billion. This investment, he noted, will be directed towards enhancing veterinary infrastructure, surveillance systems, and overall animal health services in the state.
Dr. Ifeyinwa Nnajieze, State Project Coordinator for L-PRES Enugu, expressed her heartfelt appreciation to His Excellency Governor Peter Mbah, the Commissioner for Agriculture, and all the veterinary doctors and health practitioners present. She praised their dedication to the One Health initiative and commended the state government for providing the platform and support for this important training. Dr. Nnajieze noted that the training is a critical step in building the technical capacity needed to implement One Health strategies effectively across Enugu State.
Participants expressed strong appreciation for the state’s support and the relevance of the training to their fieldwork. The program continues tomorrow with a focus on One Health risk communication strategies and practical steps for operationalizing the NAPHS at state level.
