Dubai will host the One Health Conference for the first time in the Middle East and Asia

Under the esteemed patronage of His Highness Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence and Chairman of the UAE Genetic Diseases Association, Dubai will host THE One Health Conference for the first time in the Middle East and Asia on June 23rd and 24th, 2023. The conference is organized by Best Health Consultations in partnership with the Emirates Scholar Research Center and the UAE Genetic Diseases Association.

Public health, animal health, plant health, and the quality of a good environment have now been integrated into the One Health approach, which aims to improve the health of living organisms in a better and safer world. The Dubai One Health Conference is the first initiative in the Middle East and North Africa to reunite stakeholders in One Health to discuss and develop a strategy for implementing the One Health concept in these countries. Given that the United Arab Emirates is one of the important countries in the region promoting scientific studies, innovation, and ambitious integrated projects, Dubai has been chosen for this inaugural event.

Professor Yehia Shbalon, Director of Research and Laboratory Director of PAVEL at Grenoble Alpes University, France, internationally known for his extensive work in infectious diseases and the development of vaccines to combat deadly viruses such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) responsible for AIDS, stated that there is an urgent need for Arab countries in the Middle East and North Africa to participate in the comprehensive health initiative and define a method for its implementation. The recent emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic is believed to have provided evidence of the seriousness of zoonotic diseases existing in animal reservoirs and the lack of preparedness due to weak globalization of health issues.

By addressing the links between humans, animals, plants, and the environment, the Dubai One Health Conference will pave the way for addressing the full spectrum of disease control. This includes prevention, detection, and prediction that will help with preparedness, response, optimal management, and contribute to global health security.

The Dubai One Health Conference will be renewed annually to discuss progress made and plan the next steps for implementing the One Health concept.