Together, We Are Stronger
Since 2014, the Thailand One Health University Network (THOHUN) hosts a meeting for deans of their member universities and partners (SEAOHUN, PREDICT, etc.) to meet and keep abreast of THOHUN projects and activities, as well as to maintain a strong collaborative network (pursuant to the 2016 Memorandum of Understanding among seven Thai ministries and the Thai Red Cross). These meetings provide a sustainable means for information sharing and interaction to further strengthen collaboration between universities and partners in the government sector. Thirty-two THOHUN university/faculty members, representatives of the One Health collaboration network, such as the Bureau of Disease Control and Veterinary Services, Bureau of Epidemiology, partners, and the USAID One Health Workforce project joined in the conference at Bangkok, Thailand on December 20, 2016.
The meeting started with an opening speech by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Parntep Ratanakorn, Chairman of THOHUN. He announced that Mahasarakham University will soon become THOHUN’s latest member. Dr. Saengduen Moonsom, Coordinator of the THOHUN National Coordinating Office (NCO) provided updates on THOHUN’s overall performance in 2016. THOHUN implemented 21 activities that covered the five One Health Workforce project (OHW) objectives over five levels of accomplishment. She gave examples of activities implemented from each OHW objective as well. Then Dr. Ong-orn Prasarnphanich, Regional Technical officer for the OHW, project discussed the project’s direction in 2017 with details about USAID’s pivot and the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA). The participants were also informed of the NCO’s plan to map International Health Regulation (IHR), Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS), GHSA, country competencies/technical needs, and THOHUN’s mission to create a matrix for member universities who will serve as co-organizers/in-service programs to ensure that such standards will be met. This map will be circulated to all member faculties for Year 4 activity planning.
Dr. Nuttiya Saengruang from the Coordinating Unit for One Health, Bureau of Epidemiology, Ministry of Public Health explained the details about the Operational Plan according to the memorandum of understanding (MoU) on the Implementation of One Health Initiative for National Health Security. This operational plan will start in 2017 when THOHUN would mostly take part in workforce development for government personnel and university instructors.
The meeting provided the opportunity for deans of THOHUN member faculties and the government sector to present updates on the network’s progress and provide suggestions on how to improve the management and collaboration of the network and its activities. It also provided a space for partners to specify THOHUN’s potential roles in the implementation of the One Health Initiative for National Health Security and how universities can work effectively with the government towards One Health implementation and action, which are compliant with PVS and IHR or GHSA milestones. The majority of the participants found this meeting very productive.
About the Author
Jitlada Vasuvat is the Networking and Communication Manager for the Thailand One Health University Network (THOHUN), a network supported by the USAID One Health Workforce project.
