Dar es  Salaam- The raise in frequency and severity of health emergencies make integrated management of human and animal health important. More than 70% of emerging infectious diseases have an animal origin, transmitted directly, through food or via the environment.

Animal-specific diseases can also have indirect implications for human health through food security and other impacts on livelihood. New animal diseases that affect human have economic consequences due to loss of animals, trade, travel, and loss of economic opportunities for people through loss of livestock.

The consequences of these diseases are more at the community levels where the interactions of human and animals are marked compared to other levels.  WHO in Tanzania has been supporting the Government of Tanzania to develop a strong One Health structure that permeate from central level to grassroots.

Most recently, WHO Tanzania supported the review and validation of the OH governance guideline for coordination and implementation of OH interventions, an important milestone to supporting OH coordination at the community level.

“This guideline will facilitate coordination during routine care and response to emergencies among stakeholders at all levels,” said Ms. Pelagia Muchuruza, WHO officer responsible for catalysing the implementation of One Health Approach.

Once Authorized by the government, the WCO will support printing and dissemination and distribution of the guideline for references and use at all levels.

Reflecting the principle of inclusiveness, multiple cross sector agencies participated in the validation of the guidelines. They include the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Ministry of Health (MOH), Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries (MoLF), Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), President’s Office Regional Administration and Local Government (PO-RALG), Minister Natural Resources (MNR), Ministry of Finance (MoF), the Vice President’s Office Environment and UN agencies.

Review and validation of the OH Governance guideline was necessary to align with current national and international developments. Prior to the recent review, the OH guidelines were behind the newly updated OH Strategic Plan II 2022/2026. In Tanzania, One Health is coordinated by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), in the Directorate of Disaster Management.