A one health opinion editorial RE: ideal protocol for future international one health congress meetings, all inclusive modus operandi

Abstract

‘. . .Whereas previous Congresses have been very good by all accounts, they have not adequately been all inclusive with respect to addressing a broad spectrum, co-equal recognition and exposure to both One Health essential priorities, i.e. global public health and global clinical health considerations, among a few others. Frankly, this has been known to occur due to concerns about securing adequate funding for public health research projects visà-vis clinical health missions, etc. In addition, there have been justifiable complaints regarding the meetings being “too veterinarian oriented without enough physician and other health science professional representations.” Hopefully, this next Congress will demonstrate a more ecumenical approach while addressing the issue of attracting a broader spectrum of health science oriented attendees. Human, animal and environmental health (eco-health) are in dire need of such a far reaching protocol endeavor. Spotlighted International Congresses need to become free from sectarian predominance, or even the hint of tribalism. They need to take the high road: begin “appealing to their better angels” in the true spirit of “One World-One Medicine-One Health.” An accurate and complete mosaic image of one health requires that all pieces be present and in place.’ Laudably, the One Health Platform https://mail chi.mp/onehealthplatform/world-one-health-con gress-free-lecture-202629?e=49188b2102, a leading international One Health organization has undertaken the important role of organizing One Health congresses on a biennial basis. Members of the One Health Initiative team have worked proudly with this exceptional organization’s leadership at the fifth (5) Congress in Saskatoon, Canada in June 2018 https://onehealthplatform.com/iohc/commit tees/organizing-executive-board. The sixth (6) Congress is to be held in Edinburgh, Scotland, UK June 15–18, 2020. This promises to be a landmark event. To date, there have been five (5) International One Health Congress meetings worldwide. Ostensibly their aim has been to foster and educate the international communities about the recognized real world and future visionary values attainable once the One Health approach is indeed implemented worldwide, i.e. ‘. . . in every Middlesex Village and farm’[1]. Most One Health supporters/advocates http://www. onehealthinitiative.com/supporters.php believe that to mean principally: ‘One Health is the collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally to attain optimal health for people, animals, plants and our environment.’ and ‘One Health implementation will help protect and/or save untold millions of lives in our generation and for those to come.’ [2–5]