Intersectoral collaboration in a One Health approach: Lessons learned from a country-level simulation exercise

Manageiro, Vera; Caria, Ana; Furtado, Cristina; SimEx Portuguese Team; Botelho, Ana; Oleastro, Mónica; Gonçalves, Sandra Cavaco

http://hdl.handle.net/10400.18/8980

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Authors

Manageiro, Vera

Caria, Ana

Furtado, Cristina

SimEx Portuguese Team

Botelho, Ana

Oleastro, Mónica

Gonçalves, Sandra Cavaco

Abstract(s)

Intersectoral collaboration is an essential component of the One Health (OH) approach, which recognises the interconnectedness of the health of humans, animals, and the environment. The OH European Joint Programme (OHEJP) developed a national foodborne outbreak table-top simulation exercise (SimEx) to practice OH capacity and interoperability across the public health, animal health, and food safety sectors, improving OH preparedness for future disease outbreaks. The Portuguese OHEJP SimEx highlighted strengths and weaknesses regarding the roles and functions of available systems, the constraints of existing legislation, the importance of harmonisation and data sharing, and the creation of common main messages adapted to each target sector. However, there is still a long way to go to ensure cooperation among the Public Health, Animal Health, and Food Safety sectors, as a OH approach relies not only on the awareness of "field experts" but also on political and organisational willingness and commitment.

Highlights: - Intersectoral collaboration is an essential component of the One Health approach. - Skilled entities engaged in the system, but lack intersectoral communication. - Need of One Health join national multisectoral guidelines and common databases. - One Health approach needs political and organisational willingness and commitment.

Description

SimEx Portuguese Team (alphabetical order): Ângela Pista (National Reference Laboratory for Gastrointestinal Infections, Department of Infectious Diseases, National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge, Lisbon, Portugal); João Vieira Martins (Directorate of Information and Analysis, Directorate-General of Health, Lisbon, Portugal); Lurdes Clemente (National Reference Laboratory for Animal Health, Laboratory of Bacteriology and Mycology, National Institute of Agrarian and Veterinary Research, Oeiras, Portugal); Nuno Santos Rodrigues (Public Health Unit of ACES South West, Regional Health Administration of Lisbon and Tagus Valley, Portugal); Paula Vasconcelos (Support Unit of National Health Authority and the Emergency Management in Public Health, Public Health Emergencies Operations Centre, Directorate-General of Health, Lisbon, Portugal); Pedro Nabais (Food Risks Unit, Economic and Food Safety Authority, Lisbon, Portugal); Renata Carvalho (Animal Health and Epidemiology Division, Directorate-General for Food and Veterinary).