Astana – Kazakhstan – 19 September 2025 – The World Health Organization (WHO), together with the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, held a one-day seminar on integrating ecology and health within the One Health approach.
The event was organized under the multi-country project of the Pandemic Fund, “Pandemic Preparedness and Response through the One Health Approach in Central Asia”, and brought together experts in public health, epidemiology, ecology, water management, and veterinary medicine.
The seminar aimed to strengthen Kazakhstan’s capacity to incorporate environmental aspects into national One Health systems by enhancing intersectoral collaboration, surveillance mechanisms, and workforce development in line with regional and global priorities.
Participants discussed the role of the environment in the spread and prevention of diseases, the impact of land-use change, biodiversity loss, climate change, and pollution on human and animal health, as well as measures to improve intersectoral governance and coordination. Special attention was given to identifying gaps in environmental monitoring and developing a program for additional professional training.
“Today it is crucial to view human health in close connection with the state of animals and nature. That is why we see One Health as a pathway to building a sustainable response system capable of protecting not only Kazakhstan but the entire region from new challenges,” said Yerlan Zhumabayev, Director of the Country Office of the Regional Environmental Centre for Central Asia (CAREC) in the Republic of Kazakhstan.
The seminar served as an important platform for developing practical steps toward the implementation of the Joint Action Plan on One Health (2022–2026), the Roadmap on Health and Well-being in Central Asia (2022–2025), and the Recommendations on Adapting the One Health Approach for the WHO European Region.
The outcomes of the seminar contributed to the development of a coordinated action plan for integrating environmental and health issues within the framework of the national One Health strategy, as well as to preparing new proposals for further funding in health and environmental protection.
Additional information:
Yerlan Zhumabayev – Director of the CAREC Country Office in the Republic of Kazakhstan, kazakhstan@carececo.org