LAHORE: Participants in a conference on Thursday recommended that zoologists promote community engagement in health emergency preparedness and response through education, training, and participation in decision-making processes.
On the concluding day of the two-day international conference on health security on Thursday at the University of Veterinary and Animal Science (UVAS), experts recommended the promotion of collaboration and information-sharing among countries, governments, international organisations, civil society and the private sector to foster a comprehensive and coordinated response to global health threats.
Experts called for international collaboration among countries to address health security challenges through the sharing of knowledge, and resources, adapting good practices, and ensuring equitable access to essential technologies, including vaccines, diagnostics and treatments, especially in low- and middle-income countries like Pakistan.
They also demanded enhancing the capacity of veterinary and healthcare systems to deliver quality healthcare services during emergencies, outbreaks, floods and other natural disasters.
The production of livestock is decreasing due to the stress of climate change which is very alarming for food security.
They said the zoonotic importance of various diseases needs to be highlighted, and human, veterinary, and environment dealing components should be sensitized along with the public at large.
National health security plans should also be looked at as a civic responsibility rather than considering it the sole responsibility of the government, they added.
It is the need of the hour that national security as perceived in the constitutional framework be revised and redefined to include emerging, re-emerging, and other trans-boundary diseases of humans and animals as one of the main threats to the health and food security of the human population.
Up to 24 international and 60 national speakers joined virtually and 64 research papers were presented at the conference.
Federal Minister of Education and Professional Training for Pakistan Rana Tanveer Hussain urged the dairy sector to utilise modern technologies to enhance milk and meat production.
He said strong linkages are required to fill the gap between consumer demand and product quality research.
He said climate change must be included in the curriculum to address the climate issue in Pakistan.
Earlier, Prof Dr Joon-Seok Chae from the College of Veterinary Medicine, Seoul National University of the Republic of Korea presented the recommendation for the conference, while Prof Dr Aneela Zameer Durrani presented a vote of thanks.
Published in Dawn, March 17th, 2023
