(KPL) On September 16, Canal France International (CFI) officially launched the "Media for One Health" project in Vientiane, bringing together local journalists and health experts for a week-long training programme aimed at highlighting the role of media in promoting public and environmental health.

The training commenced alongside the National One Health Awareness Conference, with opening remarks from Mr. Brieuc Lahellec, CFI Programme Manager; Ms. Nathalie Brat, Cooperation and Cultural Action Counsellor from the French Embassy in Laos; and Mr. Somsavath Phongsa, Director of Mass Media Department at the Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism, and together, they inaugurated the "Media for One Health" campaign in Laos.

The project aims to train journalists across Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, and the Philippines on effectively covering One Health as a crucial global issue. By understanding the complex interdependence between the environment, animal health, and human health, journalists will be better equipped to tackle stories on zoonotic diseases, environmental degradation, and climate change.

Discussions during the conference centered around the One Health approach's relevance for Laos and its implementation within the ASEAN region. Dr. Daan Vink, a Veterinary Epidemiologist from the French Agricultural Research Centre (CIRAD), and Professor Dr. Mayfong Mayxay, Vice-President of the Lao University of Health Sciences, addressed the importance of this approach in ensuring the interconnection between environmental, animal, and human health.

Mr. Santi Saypanya, Country Director of the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and Ms. Souksaveuy Keotiamchanh, Founder of Zero Waste Laos, further emphasized the role of the media and civil society in raising awareness on One Health, particularly in the realms of animal and environmental health protection.

Speaking at the conference, Dr. Vink highlighted the growing significance of the One Health concept, especially in light of recent health challenges such as SARS, H1N1, MERS, Ebola, Zika, and COVID-19 — all diseases of animal origin with far-reaching impacts on human health and the global economy.

Prof. Mayxay emphasized the need for journalists to acquire both hard and soft skills to cover One Health issues effectively. On the technical side, knowledge in epidemiology, microbiology, and infectious diseases is crucial. In terms of soft skills, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving are essential for journalists to navigate a rapidly changing world.

The "Media for One Health" initiative is a two-year project which is supported by the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs. It seeks to empower journalists across Southeast Asia to communicate the principles of the One Health approach, contributing to improved public awareness and policy action on pressing global health issues.

KPL