Overview
The World One Health Congress is an initiative of the global One Health community, hosted in collaboration with the University of Pretoria and Vetlink, which together foster a cross-sectoral, collaborative approach to promoting health and well-being worldwide.
The 8th Congress was held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, a landmark event reaffirming a global commitment to the interconnected health of people, animals and the planet, and a step toward translating science into policy and strengthening collaboration across sectors and borders.
The congress by the numbers
| Figure | Detail |
|---|---|
| Participants | Over 1,400 |
| Countries represented | 87 |
| Duration | Four days |
| Speakers | 400 |
| Sessions | 70 |
| Scientific posters | 600 |
Outcomes were expected to inform global health discussions including the 79th UN Session in New York.
Themes addressed in parallel sessions
- One Health Science: zoonoses, pandemic preparedness and prevention
- One Health Food: food safety, nutrition and sustainable systems
- One Health Climate and Environment: environmental resilience and ecosystem health
- One Health Socio-Economics, Equity, and Capacity Building
- Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and the need for global collaboration
Delegates were also encouraged to join the Science Policy Interface sessions, a distinctive feature of the congress that translates scientific knowledge into actionable policy solutions.
African leadership
There was a strong emphasis on Africa's pivotal role in global health security, with innovative research, policy frameworks and case studies from across the continent showcasing African leadership in sustainable One Health strategies. The congress was hosted by the University of Pretoria and organised locally by Vetlink, building on the legacy of the 7th World One Health Congress held in Singapore in 2022.
Keynote speakers
| Speaker | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Maria Van Kerkhove | World Health Organization, Switzerland |
| Edward Holmes | University of Sydney, Australia |
| Linfa Wang | Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore |
| Jean Kaseya | Director General, Africa CDC, Congo |
| Appolinaire Djikeng | Director General, ILRI, Kenya |
| Marietjie Venter | Congress Chair, University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa |
Their sessions emphasised evidence-based approaches, pandemic prevention, and the integration of science with policy and community engagement.
The mission of the congress series
The series began in Melbourne in 2011 with the aim of connecting the dots between science and public health security policy. The 2024 edition reinforced that mission by:
- Fostering dialogue among all stakeholders in the One Health ecosystem
- Showcasing cutting-edge research and innovations
- Providing a platform for students and early-career fellows to present their work
- Building stronger bridges between science, policy and practice
The Cape Town outcomes will continue to shape One Health strategies globally, on the principle that the health of humans, animals and the environment is interconnected and indivisible.
