AS Zimbabwe confronts the growing pressures of climate change, emerging infectious diseases and persistent zoonotic threats, the need for a holistic, collaborative approach to health and the environment has never been more crucial.
The One Health framework, which recognises the intricate connections between human, animal and ecosystem health, offers a path forward — but implementing it requires a shift in mindset and a renewed commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration.
In this in-depth feature, we delve into the frontlines of Zimbabwe’s One Health efforts, speaking with medical and health specialists who are working to address the complex challenges that demand integrated surveillance and response systems.
From zoonotic diseases like anthrax and sleeping sickness to the broader impacts of environmental degradation, this feature explores the critical role the media can play in shaping the narrative and driving meaningful change.
“The media shape the narrative in terms of One Health and many other issues,” says Paradzayi Tagwireyi, a public health expert at the University of Zimbabwe.
“When news stories are left incomplete or fail to connect the dots, communities don’t get the proper awareness needed to practise the One Health approach.”
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That approach, Tagwireyi explains, encompasses a way of life in which every action is undertaken with a conscious recognition of its impacts, both positive and negative, on other part of the environment — including living components, non-living components and the social component that is a key element of the ecosystem.
In recent years, Zimbabwe has grappled with several complex health challenges that demand integrated surveillance and response systems.
Zoonotic diseases, such as anthrax and human African trypanosomiasis (commonly known as sleeping sickness), have emerged as pressing concerns, with the potential to spill over from animal populations to human communities.
“These diseases don’t respect boundaries between species or sectors,” says Tinashe Mukute, a veterinary epidemiologist with the Agriculture ministry.
“That’s why we need a co-ordinated, multidisciplinary approach to understand the risk factors, detect outbreaks early and respond effectively.”
Mukute’s team works closely with counterparts in human health, wildlife conservation and environmental management to monitor disease patterns, identify emerging threats and develop strategies to mitigate the impact.
This collaborative approach, he says, is essential for tackling the complex, interconnected challenges that fall under the One Health umbrella.
Yet, the challenges are daunting.
Climate change, for example, is driving environmental degradation and disrupting the delicate balance of ecosystems, with cascading effects on human and animal health.
As habitats are fragmented and altered, the risk of zoonotic disease transmission increases and the incidence of vector-borne illnesses like malaria and dengue fever can rise.
“We’re seeing the consequences of our actions play out in real time,” says Rudo Mapfumo, a climate and health specialist with the Health and Child Care ministry.
“The degradation of our natural resources, the loss of biodiversity and the disruption of traditional land-use patterns — these are all impacting the health and well-being of our communities.”
Addressing these challenges requires a fundamental shift in how we think about health and the environment, moving away from siloed, compartmentalised approaches and embracing the holistic perspective of One Health.
And the media, experts say, have a crucial role to play in shaping this narrative and driving public awareness and engagement.
“The media have the power to connect the dots, to show people how their individual actions and the broader societal choices we make are inextricably linked to the health of our planet and our communities,” Tagwireyi says.
“By highlighting the interconnectedness of these issues, they can empower citizens to become active participants in the One Health solution.”
Indeed, the stakes are high.
As Zimbabwe navigates the complexities of emerging diseases, environmental degradation and the ever-present threat of zoonotic outbreaks, the need for a co-ordinated, multi-sectoral response has never been more urgent.
And with the media playing a central role in shaping public understanding and discourse, the path to a healthier, more sustainable future may well hinge on how these stories are told.
“We’re all in this together,” Mukute says.
“Our destinies are intertwined and the choices we make today will determine the world we leave for future generations.
“It’s time for us to embrace the One Health approach and work together to build a better, more resilient world.”