ISLAMABAD: A high-level Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) mission of the United Nations visited the National Institute of Health (NIH) to discuss stronger coordination between Pakistan’s One Health initiatives and biodiversity conservation efforts.
The FAO delegation included Dr. Scott Newman, Senior Animal Health and Production Officer, and Mr. Zack Dvornicky Raymond, One Health Wildlife Specialist at the FAO Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific.
The visit focused on strategic discussions about aligning the Field Training Program for Wildlife, Environment, Biodiversity and Ecosystems (FTP-WEBE) with Pakistan’s One Health initiatives and its National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP).
The discussions were held under the Pandemic Fund project, which aims to strengthen preparedness and response to health threats through coordinated approaches involving human health, animal health and the environment.
The proposed alignment of FTP-WEBE with national biodiversity and One Health priorities is expected to support capacity building among professionals working in wildlife, environmental protection and ecosystem management.
A stronger link between wildlife health, biodiversity conservation and public health can help Pakistan better identify and respond to emerging risks while protecting ecosystems and natural resources.
The FAO mission’s engagement with NIH also highlights the importance of international cooperation and institutional coordination in strengthening Pakistan’s capacity to address health and environmental challenges through the One Health approach.
