ADDIS ABABA – Combined effort is a critical issue in the Capacitating One Health in Eastern and Southern Africa (COHESA) initiative to address health challenges affecting humans, animals, and the environment, according to Addis Ababa University (AAU).
AAU School of Public Health Researcher Prof. Mirgissa Kaba told The Ethiopian Herald that cooperative efforts are essential to promote the One Health (OH) approach, which integrates the wellbeing of humans, animals, and the surrounding environment, particularly in the fight against antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
He noted that the Council of Ministers recently established a One Health Secretariat under the Ethiopian Public Health Institute (EPHI), incorporating stakeholders from the agriculture, environmental, and wildlife protection sectors.
In addition to AAU, several institutions including the University of Gondar, Jimma, Bule Hora, Hawassa, Mekelle, Wollo, and Haramaya Universities are actively engaged in One Health initiatives. For example, Jimma University has established a One Health Center of Excellence, while Bule Hora University funds research aimed at fostering sustainable development through healthy interactions among humans, animals, and the environment.
According to Mirgissa, AMR is currently a global concern due to the strong interconnection between humans, animals, and the environment. Although the COHESA program has been implemented in Ethiopia for the past four years, it has not yet sufficiently addressed these challenges.
“Addis Ababa University has been working on the One Health approach to promote a healthy environment for animals, humans, and the ecosystem through scientific research and by encouraging the involvement of various stakeholders, including the media, to bridge the information gap on AMR,” he added.
While Ethiopia has made efforts to advance the One Health approach, Mirgissa emphasized that challenges remain, including the absence of a consistent implementation framework, limited intersectoral collaboration, and weak administrative capacity. These factors hinder the establishment of a healthy ecosystem for humans, animals, and the environment, including aquatic life.
He further stated that the main objective of the COHESA project, which supported by the United Nations, is to provide solutions by identifying root causes through collaborative efforts. In this regard, AAU acts as a central hub for the project and engages stakeholders from across Ethiopia and neighboring countries.
COHESA is a collaborative project involving representatives from Eastern African countries such as Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda, as well as Southern African countries including Botswana, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
BY MESERET BEHAILU
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD WEDNESDAY 16, July 2025
