Mauritius Leads One Health with 80 Trained Experts by 2025

The One Health regional workshop, part of the SEGA One Health Network of the Indian Ocean Commission (IOC), concluded on May 14 at the Hennessy Park Hotel in Ébène. Organized over three days by the IOC in collaboration with several ministries, including the Ministry of Environment, Solid Waste Management and Climate Change, the Ministry of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries, and the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the event was funded by the French Development Agency (AFD).

The workshop aimed to enhance regional health security by promoting collaboration among human, animal, and environmental health sectors.

Key priorities included improving information sharing among IOC member states, strengthening coordination in the fight against infectious diseases, and bolstering epidemiological surveillance capabilities.

The closing ceremony featured several notable attendees, including Arvin Boolell, Minister of Agro-Industry, Food Security, Blue Economy and Fisheries; Anil Bachoo, Minister of Health and Wellness; Joanna Bérenger, Junior Minister of Environment; Edgard Razafindravahy, Secretary General of the IOC; Laëtitia Habchi, Director of AFD for Mauritius and Seychelles; and Dr. Anne Marie Ancia, WHO representative in Mauritius. Approximately 40 participants from partner institutions attended the workshop, also aiming to align regional actions with international One Health standards and develop a three-year intersectoral action plan.

Minister Boolell emphasized the increased responsibility of small island nations like Mauritius in monitoring and preventing epidemics.

While geographical isolation offers some protection, he stressed the need for strong food safety standards and enhanced regional cooperation.

He also addressed the impacts of climate change on public health, calling for sustained collaboration to protect both human lives and exports.

Minister Bachoo praised the IOC’s field epidemiology training program, which strengthens local capacity for outbreak detection and response.

He highlighted the importance of integrating human, animal, and environmental health data for early detection and informed decision-making.

He commended the SEGA One Health Network for its leadership in regional coordination and resilience.

Joanna Bérenger raised concerns about the increasing risks of zoonotic diseases, worsened by environmental degradation.

She announced a joint project between her ministry and WHO focused on monitoring antimicrobial resistance, which includes modernizing laboratories for detecting waterborne pathogens.

She reiterated that environmental protection is closely linked to public health.

Secretary General Razafindravahy acknowledged Mauritius’s leadership in the region, noting the training of 80 health professionals and the certification of 55 epidemiologists by 2025.

He highlighted significant investments, including the establishment of a biosafety level 3 laboratory and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system.

He called for continued support for the One Health framework from international partners like AFD and the European Union.

Laëtitia Habchi reaffirmed France’s commitment to health in the Indian Ocean, describing the One Health approach as a vital tool for addressing complex and interconnected health challenges.

She emphasized the importance of sustainable multi-stakeholder engagement to build resilient health systems.

Source: Le Mauricien