November 21st 2022

Ministry of Agriculture celebrates International One Health Day

by Anicia Antoine, Ministry of Agriculture

THE ONE HEALTH APPROACH ADDRESSES THE PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUES WHICH MAY EMERGE WITH THE INCREASE IN ANIMAL TRADE.

The increasing demands on animals caused by the ongoing growth of the population have led to an increase in animal migration and trade.

The One Health approach addresses many different public health issues which may emerge, including antimicrobial resistance, environmental health, food safety, mental health, vector-borne diseases, and zoonotic diseases.

Understanding the importance of implementing the One Health Approach, the Government and People of Taiwan donated a veterinary PCR Analyzer to the Agricultural Ministry for the purpose of testing for animal viruses.

Ambassador of the Republic of China Taiwan to Saint Lucia, H.E Peter Chia-yen Chen, said his government is fully supportive of improving national disease management and epidemic prevention worldwide and will continue to collaborate with the Government of Saint Lucia to protect livelihoods.

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security, and Rural Development, Hon. Alfred Prospere, emphasized the importance of ensuring that the relationship between plants, animals and people, as well as its impact on the environment, remains positive in order to fulfil the ministry's mandate to promote a diversified national income base from agriculture and fisheries, to improve food security and livelihood systems, and to promote rural development. He notes that the donation of the equipment is timely as the diagnostic facility seeks to build capacity and be in a better position to serve agricultural stakeholders.

In the current era of globalization, where the emergence and reemergence of unexpected sanitary events continue to accelerate, Minister Prospere encourages all partners to continue working towards the universal goal of sustainably optimizing the health of people, animals and ecosystems.

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