One Health Workforce – Next Gen

Emerging infectious disease threats such as the COVID-19 pandemic, which likely originated in wildlife and spread to humans, highlight the importance of a well prepared and technically skilled ‘One Health’ workforce—one that works across the human, animal, and environmental health interface—for disease prevention, detection, and response. The complexity of these emerging health threats is a reminder that a large-scale, multidisciplinary network of One Health professionals is required for strengthening our biodefenses and for achieving global health security. In 2011, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) supported the establishment of the Vietnam One Health University Network (VOHUN) to promote and develop 'One Health' education among the fields of medicine, veterinary science, nursing, public health, and food technology at the country’s universities. The U. S. Agency for International Development’s (USAID) One Health Workforce - Next Gen project continues to support VOHUN to educate the next generation of health care workers, veterinarians, and scientists across 27 universities to deliver more effective disease prevention and control.   

DEVELOP AND BUILD ONE HEALTH WORKFORCE 

The project develops, delivers, and institutionalizes training and educational offerings in alignment with prioritized One Health core competencies and technical skills. This includes developing three new master’s degree programs: the Master of Public Health Program with One Health orientation, the Master of Veterinary Public Health Program, and the Master of Public Health Program with Environment focus, as well as integrating One Health curriculum into existing academic programs. The project also supports One Health student clubs at 27 universities representing a variety of disciplines, ranging from public health, preventive medicine, nursing, veterinary studies, food technology, and animal husbandry. These clubs provide students the opportunity to network across disciplines and raise awareness in their communities of infectious and zoonotic disease prevention and control. The project also provides field-based training courses on zoonotic disease prevention plans for health and veterinary government authorities.

IMPACT 

By supporting university programs and networks, and providing One Health training for health and veterinary professionals, the project is strengthening Vietnam’s capacity to prevent and respond to zoonotic diseases and to manage global health threats.

TARGETED LOCALITIES

The project works nationwide through VOHUN with 27 universities in 16 provinces and cities.