This document discusses the challenges of implementing One Health/EcoHealth approaches at the project level. It describes the EcoZD project which aims to build capacity around emerging infectious diseases in Southeast Asia. Some of the key implementation challenges discussed include identifying appropriate human resources, determining the proper scope of projects, and overcoming differences between biomedical and social science approaches. The document also outlines some of the solutions utilized by the EcoZD project to address these challenges, such as establishing EcoHealth resource centers and identifying in-country champions.

1. The challenges of implementation
of One Health/EcoHealth
at project level
Jeffrey Gilbert, ILRI
c/o CIAT-Asia, Vientiane
Presented at a technical training and planning workshop on
cross-border coordinated response to infectious diseases
Chiang Mai , Thailand, 31 May 2011

2. EcoZD: Overview
 ‘EcoHealth Approaches to the Better Management of
Zoonotic Emerging Infectious Diseases in the Southeast
Asia Region’
 Increase the knowledge, skills and capacity of research and
infectious disease control personnel in Southeast Asia to
understand the risks and impacts of Emerging Infectious
Diseases and how feasible options can best be implemented and
adapted;
 ‘Learning by Doing’ approach; (for JG also!)
 4 years 2008 – 2012; extended by 18months to Aug 2013
 6 countries in SEA region;
 Cambodia, China (Yunnan), Laos, Viet Nam, Indonesia, Thailand
 One of IDRC’s EcoHealth initiatives in SE Asia: APAIR/APEIR,
EcoEID, BECA, FBLI

3. EcoZD: Components
Country Teams:
Cambodia: zoonotic risks for acute dysentery
Yunnan: Brucellosis & Toxoplasmosis
Indonesia: Rabies - Bali
Lao PDR: pig zoonoses
Thai-Viet: hygiene in small-scale poultry
slaughterhouses
Viet Nam: zoonoses priority ranking
EcoHealth Resource Centres:
Chiang Mai University
University of Gadjah Mada

4. What language are we talking?
Lingua franca
 Eg Latin America/ EcoSalud
 ‘Lost in translation’
Biomedical v Social Sciences
 Medics & Vets (clinical / lab / epi)
 Quantitative v Qualitative (ranking, dual health burden)
 Researchers, Decision Makers, Communities
Novel approaches to holistic integrated approaches
 One Health
 One Medicine
 EcoHealth
 Inexact / broad interpretation v H5N1
Case studies & publications

5. EcoZD start-up issues
Human Resources
Supply & Demand
 Language
 Technical – including prop.writing/ meth/ analysis /paper
 Market forces operating
Identifying Champions (incl. to implement & to mentor)
Level of counterparts (senior/junior)
Scope of EcoZD
‘Carte blanche’ v prescriptive
Learning by doing
Priority zoonoses +/- EID
EcoHealth approach – new ‘paradigm’
Two-dimensional capacity-building requirement
Greek temple analogy
EHRC concept

6. EcoZD: Some of the Solutions
 EHRCs: regional champions of the future – EcoHealth
Centres of Excellence, academic buy-in, networking, regional
capacity building; language; (challenge in technical support)
 Cambodia: champions identified, Govt senior level support
 China: silo syndrome, local expert to provide technical
assistance, EH training materials in Chinese
 Indonesia: multiple champions, finding niche - focus on dog
ecology, complementing other initiatives
 Lao PDR: pooling inputs/outputs with ACIAR project
 Thai-Viet: reduced to 2 countries, local experts identified to
provide technical assistance, link to EHRC-CMU
 Viet Nam: 3 research contracts and individual priorities,
difficulties deciding on priority, change approach/angle
 More time to do the research! – 18months no-cost extension
 Appreciate medium to LONG term aim; not a fix-all

7. International Livestock Research Institute
Better lives through livestock
Animal agriculture to reduce poverty, hunger and
environmental degradation in developing countries
www.ilri.org
e-mail: J.Gilbert@CGIAR.ORG