Investment in Ghana’s animal health systems is urgently required to safeguard the overall health and well-being of the population, says Dr Benjamin Kissi Sasu, risk communication officer of the Veterinary Service Department (VSD).
Key areas requiring urgent attention include research and innovation, disease prevention and control, capacity-building, and strengthening the veterinary workforce.
Dr Benjamin Kissi Sasu, stressed these in an interview with The Ghanaian Times to commemorate this year’s World Veterinary Day (WVD).
Observed annually on the last Saturday of April, this year’s WVD on the theme, “Animal Health Takes a Team,” emphasises the need for collaborative efforts in safeguarding animal health.
According to the VSD, although Ghana has adopted a One Health policy—which recognises the interconnectedness of animal, human, and environmental health—very little attention was being paid to the animal health component which, it warned, posed significant public health risks if not urgently addressed.
Many infectious diseases affecting humans are zoonotic in origin—meaning they can be transmitted from animals to people.
Rabies, bird flu, bovine tuberculosis, anthrax, Ebola, monkeypox, and trypanosomiasis are a few examples.
“Preventing and managing these diseases at their animal source is essential for global health security, as dramatically highlighted by the COVID-19 pandemic,” risk communication officer added.
He said from veterinary doctors and paraveterinary professionals to farmers and policymakers, everyone had a role to play in securing a healthier future for all.
Dr Sasu emphasised that animal health was not a “standalone discipline” but rather a cornerstone of public health, food security, economic resilience, and environmental sustainability.
“As the world becomes increasingly interconnected, our approaches to health must evolve accordingly.
Investing in animal health systems, strengthening veterinary services, and promoting interdisciplinary collaboration through the One Health approach are indispensable for a safer, healthier, and more sustainable future for all life on earth,” he said.
The risk communications officer further stressed that implementing the One Health approach was crucial to achieving economic stability and national development.
“Animal health is a critical yet often overlooked pillar in global health management. It is central not only to the welfare of animals but also to human health, environmental integrity, and economic stability.
Recognising these interconnections lies at the heart of the One Health approach,” he stated.
BY ABIGAIL ANNOH
