In Sierra Leone and across the globe, we are witnessing a profound truth. The health of humans, animals, and the environment is not separate, it is shared. The One Health approach recognizes this interdependence and calls for coordinated action across sectors to protect life in all its forms.
Our country faces complex challenges that demand this kind of unity. Disease vectors such as mosquitoes and rodents thrive in environments shaped by poor sanitation, stagnant water, and deforestation. These vectors do not discriminate. They carry malaria, Lassa fever, and other threats from animals to humans, often amplified by climate change and urban expansion.
Intensive livestock farming, while essential for food security, can also accelerate the spread of zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance if not properly regulated. The misuse of antibiotics in animals and humans is fueling a silent crisis. Antimicrobial resistance, that threatens to render common infections untreatable. This is not just a medical issue; it is a national security concern.
Population movement whether driven by conflict, economic hardship, or climate events, further complicates disease surveillance and response. Migrating communities often settle in areas with limited access to clean water, healthcare, and sanitation, increasing vulnerability to outbreaks and environmental degradation.
Meanwhile, air pollution from vehicles and burning waste, charcoal production, water pollution from mining and agriculture, and deforestation for timber and settlement are eroding the very ecosystems that sustain us. Biodiversity loss is not just an environmental tragedy, it is a public health emergency. Every species lost weakens the resilience of our food systems, our medicines, and our climate.
These are not isolated problems. They are symptoms of a fragmented response to interconnected threats. That is why the work of the National Public Health Agency (NPHA) and the One Health Secretariat is so critical. These institutions are leading the charge to break down silos, bringing together ministries of health, agriculture, environment, and local governance to build a unified, resilient system.
Through the One Health lens, we can:
- Strengthen surveillance for zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance
- Promote responsible livestock practices and food safety
- Address social determinants of health, poverty, education, housing that shape vulnerability
- Protect forests, water sources, and biodiversity as pillars of public health
- Equip communities with knowledge and tools to prevent disease and promote wellbeing
This is not just about science. It is about justice. It is about ensuring that every Sierra Leonean regardless of location or status, has access to clean air, safe food, effective medicine, and a healthy environment.
Let us continue to empower the NPHA and the One Health Secretariat with the resources, visibility, and trust they need. Let us invest in cross-sectoral education, community engagement, and survivor-centered communication that honors both evidence and culture. Let us teach our children that health is not just personal, it is planetary.
Because when we protect animals, we protect ourselves. When we safeguard the environment, we secure our future. And when we embrace One Health, we choose unity, wisdom, and life.
Public Relations Unit NPHA-SL