First in-Person meeting of the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (Term II) advances Quadripartite collaboration  

The One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP) held its inaugural meeting for the second term on 18-19 September in South Africa, on the margins of the World One Health Congress. The meeting brought together a distinguished group of global experts to address health challenges arising at the human, animal and environment interface. Convened by the Quadripartite organisations – the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) – the panel plays a vital role in advising the Quadripartite collaboration on One Health.  

Over the two-day meeting, the Quadripartite updated panel members on their progress and plans for the roll out of the One Health Joint Plan of Action (OH JPA) and its implementation. OHHLEP discussed their workplan and agreed that efforts in Term II should focus on fully leveraging the augmented panel and building on the achievements of Term I to maintain the political momentum required for advancing One Health implementation.   

We are at a pivotal moment where the integration of human, animal, and environmental health is not just an aspiration but a necessity. OHHLEP plays a crucial role in guiding how we address the interconnected health challenges we face today. By fostering such collaboration across sectors, we can develop stronger strategies to prevent and mitigate global health threats.

Dr Montserrat Arroyo, Deputy Director General, World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). 

The panel also agreed to meet regularly to strengthen cohesion, communication, and collaboration across their diverse disciplines. WOAH and its partners will provide continued updates on OHHLEP work via the OHHLEP webpage.