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U.S. Agency for International Development

U.S. Agency for International Development

One Health Platform Launch

For Immediate Release https://www.usaid.gov/mali/press-releases/june-27-2018-one-health-platform-launch

Wednesday, June 27, 2018

Bamako, Mali - On June 21, 2018, the U.S. government through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Malian government reinforced their long-standing partnership in the health sector with the launch of the “One Health Platform,” which will address diseases of pandemic potential in Mali. 

During the launch ceremony, Ambassador Paul A. Folmsbee spoke about the One Health approach, saying that “it is an innovative, multi-sectoral initiative for the prevention, detection and control of health threats, including epidemics and other major endemics.” He continued, “The U.S. government has been proud to partner with the Government of Mali on so many health initiatives and we are particularly excited to see the One Health approach formalized with the One Health Platform. We continue to look forward to working in partnership with all of the sectors involved in human, animal and environmental health to defend ourselves against outbreaks of pandemic potential.”

Prime Minister Soumeylou Boubèye Maïga echoed Ambassador Folmsbee’s sentiments and expressed Mali's commitment to support the One Health initiative and thanked the U.S. government for their commitment to the success of the program.

The One Health Platform is a key milestone in the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) program, which was launched in 2014 to boost countries’ capacity to detect, respond to, and recover from epidemic threats. In Mali, GHSA works to increase the government of Mali’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to emerging infectious disease threats using the “One Health” approach.  It is estimated that at least 75% of emerging and re-emerging diseases are either zoonotic (spread between humans and animals). This approach unites human, animal, and environmental health into a comprehensive multi-sectoral framework, recognizing that stressors in any of these domains impact the others and increase the likelihood of experiencing deadly outbreaks. 

Specifically, the One Health Platform includes training nurses and hospital workers on infection control measures, investing in the nationwide roll-out of the District Health Information System surveillance system, conducting cross-border emergency preparedness exercises, purchasing equipment and supplies for laboratories, and supporting the development of multi-sectoral standard operation procedures to combat zoonotic disease outbreaks.  

The One Health Platform coordinates all One Health activities in Mali and defines leadership roles for the ministries of Health, Livestock, Environment, and Agriculture, and supporting roles for six other ministries. This platform is just one example of USAID’s investment, in collaboration with other U.S. government partners, including the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Institutes for Health, in activities to strengthen the human and livestock health systems of Mali including in the surveillance, laboratory, reporting, emergency management and workforce development sectors.

 For more information, contact:
Embassy Press Office / ACI 2000 Rue 243 Porte 297 / Bamako, Mali
Tel : 20 70 24 24 /20 70 24 26 / Fax : 20 70 24 79 / Email : PASBamako@state.gov
Embassy: https://ml.usembassy.gov/