Scaling Up One Health in the Greater Mekong Subregion: A Critical Path to Disease Prevention

The Scaling Up One Health Approaches in the Greater Mekong Subregion report, published by ADB, highlights the urgent need for integrated health policies to combat zoonotic diseases. It calls for stronger governance, improved surveillance, and regional collaboration to enhance health security in the GMS.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB), in collaboration with regional and global health organizations, has released a significant report titled Scaling Up One Health Approaches in the Greater Mekong Subregion. This comprehensive study underscores the urgent need for integrated health strategies to address rising zoonotic disease threats in the region.

Why One Health Matters in the Greater Mekong Subregion

The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) is at a crossroads, grappling with rapid urbanization, climate change, and expanding human-wildlife interactions. These factors create an ideal breeding ground for zoonotic diseases—infectious diseases that jump from animals to humans—such as avian influenza and COVID-19. The report highlights how deforestation, wildlife trade, and intensive agriculture have exacerbated these risks, making a unified health strategy imperative.

The One Health approach integrates human, animal, and environmental health, recognizing their interconnectedness in preventing and managing diseases. ADB's findings stress that without a collaborative framework, healthcare infrastructure in the region will struggle to mitigate future outbreaks effectively.

Building a Stronger Health Defense: Key Strategies

To scale up One Health in the region, the report outlines several core strategies:

Strengthening Policy and Governance: Collaboration between health, agriculture, and environment ministries is essential to formulating cohesive policies.

Enhancing Capacity Building: Training professionals in epidemiology, risk management, and disease surveillance will equip the region with the tools needed to combat future outbreaks.

Improving Data Sharing and Surveillance: Establishing regional platforms for real-time disease tracking can enhance early warning systems and rapid response capabilities.

Engaging Local Communities: Promoting best practices in hygiene, biosecurity, and animal health management ensures a grassroots approach to disease prevention.

Regional and International Support: A Collaborative Effort

International organizations play a pivotal role in strengthening One Health implementation. The World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and ASEAN’s One Health Coordination Mechanism are providing financial and technical support to help countries in the GMS integrate these principles into their health policies.

Challenges and Opportunities Ahead

Despite the evident need for One Health, several challenges hinder its full-scale implementation. The report identifies limited funding, fragmented policies, and gaps in institutional capacity as key obstacles. However, the emergence of AI-driven disease surveillance and advancements in digital health technologies present an opportunity to revolutionize regional health security. Strengthened cross-border collaboration and investment in long-term health infrastructure will be essential in overcoming these barriers.

A Roadmap for the Future

The report concludes with a clear call to action—governments and stakeholders must prioritize multi-sectoral collaboration, sustainable funding, and public-private partnerships to ensure the success of One Health. By integrating environmental conservation with health policies and fostering research on vaccines and antimicrobial resistance, the GMS can build a more resilient future.

The Scaling Up One Health Approaches in the Greater Mekong Subregion report serves as a vital blueprint for disease prevention and public health security. With concerted efforts from governments, international agencies, and local communities, the One Health approach can safeguard millions from the devastating impacts of future pandemics.