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We as WHO Collaborating Centre

Our institute has been designated by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a
"WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training for Health at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface" (WHO CC HAEI).


This title is based on a long-standing collaboration between IBEI and WHO in the spirit of the One Health approach.

History

The World Health Organization

As a sub-organisation of the United Nations, the World Health Organisation (WHO) is responsible for coordinating and steering international health policy.

The WHO's goal is the highest possible level of health for all people.

"Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely freedom from disease or infirmity." - Preamble of the Statutes of the WHO (1946)

WHO Collaborating Centres

The Collaborating Centres (CC) are independent institutions from the fields of science and technology that are designated by the WHO.


The cooperation between the institutions and the WHO enables health research on an interdisciplinary and international level and means a win-win situation for both sides.

The designation by the WHO takes place in consultation with the responsible ministry of the member state in which the CC is located. This ministry takes over the financing of the CC.

"In everything we do, WHO relies on the expertise of hundreds of formal WHO Collaborating Centres, in your countries, and thousands of the best brains in science, medicine, and public health, in your countries. They give us their time freely and it is my strong impression that they do so with pride." - Dr. Margaret Chan, former Director-General, address to the Sixty-fourth World Health Assembly, 16 May 2011

Our designation as a WHO Collaborating Centre

In 1973, the WHO designated the Foundation of the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover as a "Collaborating Centre for Veterinary Research and Training in Public Health".

In 1993, this collaboration was redefined under the title "WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Veterinary Public Health" (WHO CC VPH) and the designation was officially transferred to IBEI with regard to veterinary epidemiology.

Over time, the cooperation between IBEI and WHO expanded beyond the topic of VPH in the sense of the One Health approach.

In December 2015, this expansion of tasks was officially expressed by the redesignation of IBEI as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training for Health at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface (WHO CC HAEI).

Tasks

Our tasks as a Collaborating Centre

Due to restructuring within the WHO, the IBEI, as the "WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training for Health at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface" (WHO CC HAEI), has been supporting the newly created "AMR Division" of the WHO in its activities for the Global Antimicrobial Surveillance System (GLASS) since the beginning of 2020.

One of the strategic goals of the WHO Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance is the Tricycle project, in whose implementation the WHO and its member states are supported by the IBEI.

The establishment of a national integrated surveillance system is to be supported, which will also include practical assistance in the implementation of the Tricycle project in the form of training and workshops.

Terms of Reference

  • Support WHO in activities to strengthen Member States’ national capacity for AMR surveillance and continuous development and implementation of the WHO Global Antimicrobial Resistance and Use Surveillance System (GLASS)
  • Support WHO in development and implementation of GLASS One Health surveillance model
  • Contribute to the network of WHO Collaborating Centres for AMR Surveillance and Quality Assessment under WHO’s leadership

Furthermore, WHO CC HAEI will continue ongoing projects and diverse international collaborations. These include various studies on the use of antibiotics and other veterinary medicines in food-producing animals, horses and small animals.

The study VetCAb-ID (Veterinary Consumption of Antibiotics - International Documentation) was developed from the long-term study VetCAb-S and is available to project partners worldwide for data collection.

We organise training courses in the field of veterinary epidemiology, international meetings and WHO consultations to share knowledge and findings on the topic of One Health with interested parties.

In line with our work as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training for Health at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface (WHO CC HAEI), we provide information about our research, teaching and service activities on One Health in our annual reports.

One Health

Our understanding of One Health

One Health is an internationally used term that is used by many institutions to describe their activities.

Due to the numerous projects and contexts in which the term One Health appears, it has taken on a very broad meaning and is defined in different ways.

We, as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training for Health at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface (WHO CC HAEI), understand One Health and its thematically related terms in line with the WHO, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the European Commission (EC).

One Health and related terms

What does One Health mean?

One Health describes the interrelationship of humans, animals and the environment and aims to improve public health. The coexistence of humans and animals in a common ecosystem means that a large number of pathogens are adapted to both species or can be transmitted between them. In this context, the animal itself as a living vector, on the one hand, and as a supplier of the vector food, on the other hand, are in the focus of health prevention for humans. This prevention requires finely tuned cooperation between experts from the fields of public health, animal health, plant health and the environment. One Health links the interdisciplinary sciences with governments, experts and independent organisations at local, national, regional and global levels.

What does Public Health mean?

Public health analyses the health status of a population in order to improve it. The focus is on human biology as well as lifestyle and environment of a population group and its health care system. Research by scientists from human and veterinary medicine, epidemiology, economics, sociology and politics focuses on the promotion of physical and mental health, strategies for the prevention of diseases and reform processes in the care systems.

 

 

What does Veterinary Public Health mean?

Veterinary Public Health (VPH) is an important sub-field of Public Health, which is primarily the responsibility of veterinarians. The focus of this field is to improve human health and well-being by optimising the health status of animals. Concrete topics of VPH are zoonoses, food safety and antibiotic resistance.  In addition, this sub-field also deals with the management of health aspects of laboratory animal facilities and diagnostic laboratories, as well as the management of domestic and wild animal populations. Furthermore, the task of Veterinary Public Health is not only to assess the risks arising from the handling of animals and food of animal origin, but also to recognise the benefits for humans. For example, animals serve humans as social partners, as labour, as suppliers of raw materials or as indicators of environmental pollution.

 

 

What does animal health mean?

Animal health is concerned first and foremost with the health and welfare of animals. This approach is an important part of the One Health concept, as animals and humans share and influence a common ecosystem, while both can benefit from each other, they can also be harmed. In the Terrestrial Animal Health Code and the Aquatic Animal Health Code, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) sets global standards to improve animal health and welfare. Under the title "Five Freedoms for Animal Welfare", the organisation calls for freedom from hunger, thirst and malnutrition, freedom from fear and distress, and freedom from physical discomfort and temperature-related stress. Freedom from pain, injury and disease and the requirement to allow animals to express their innate behaviour form the last two points.

 

 

What does plant health mean?

Plant health includes the protection of cereals, fruits, vegetables, flowers, ornamental plants and forests from pests and diseases caused by other organisms. Plants play an immensely important role in the lives of humans and animals, as they provide the basis for food, shape habitats, influence the climate and serve as raw materials, among other things. Under this approach, the European Commission supports sustainable agriculture through numerous laws and projects. In addition to these contributions, the protection of public and private green spaces, forests and landscapes are also important topics of Plant Health.

 

 

What does environment mean?

Environment is defined as the surroundings that affect a living being and influence its living conditions. Fauna and flora, as well as humans themselves, depend on air, water and biodiversity and influence them in their own way. On this basis, it becomes clear that the environment is a central aspect of One Health and connects all pillars of the concept. The task of science and politics is thus the protection of habitats and the preservation of clean air and water. In addition, research into toxic chemicals and the promotion of a sustainable economy are globally necessary to preserve the environment as the basis of our existence.

 

 

[Translate to English:] aufgeschlagenes Buch

Annual reports

In line with our work as the WHO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training for Health at the Human-Animal-Environment Interface (WHO CC HAEI), we provide information in our annual reports about our research, teaching and service activities on the topic of One Health.

 

 

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