Outbreaks do not knock before they enter. They slip in quietly—through polluted water, shrinking forests, overcrowded cities, and unnoticed contact between humans and animals—until hospitals are overwhelmed and lives are lost. Ebola taught the world this lesson. COVID-19 confirmed it. The real question now is whether we choose to forget—or prepare.
With the launch of the One Health Initiative, Governor Francis Nwifuru has taken a decisive step toward a future where disease prevention is proactive rather than reactive. Speaking in Abakaliki during the state’s first sub-national multi-stakeholders’ dialogue on evidence-based One Health policymaking, the governor acknowledged a hard truth: Africa continues to bear a disproportionate burden of preventable diseases because critical systems often operate in isolation.
Malaria, waterborne illnesses, neglected tropical diseases, and zoonotic infections are not random misfortunes. In Ebonyi, rapid urbanisation, deforestation, population pressure, and increased human–animal interaction have created fertile ground for disease transmission. Treating health as a stand-alone sector has only deepened the state’s vulnerability.
The One Health approach confronts this failure directly. It recognises that human health is inseparable from the health of animals, plants, and the environment—and that cross-sector collaboration is no longer optional, but essential.
At the centre of translating this vision into action is Professor Jesse Uneke, Vice-Chancellor of the David Umahi Federal University of Science and Technology. An internationally respected authority on infectious diseases and health policy, Prof. Uneke has spent years bridging the gap between research and governance. His work focuses on translating evidence into policy, strengthening health systems, and fostering intersectoral collaboration—precisely the foundation One Health requires.
His involvement positions Ebonyi to move beyond speeches to strategy, and beyond data to decisive action. By anchoring policymaking in evidence generated by local researchers, the state stands a better chance of responding faster, smarter, and more sustainably to emerging health threats.
One Health is more than a policy framework. It is a test of leadership.
Ebonyi has taken the first step. What follows may determine whether the next outbreak becomes another tragedy—or a triumph of preparedness.
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