Andrea Innocenti Climate change, pollution, and zoonotic diseases are transforming the way traditional medicine approaches health. One Health is the paradigm that recognizes the interdependence of human health , animal health , and ecosystem integrity , pushing for integrated and multidisciplinary solutions.
One Health Congress in Sousse: Key Facts and Figures
The fifth international One Health congress is concluding in Sousse, Tunisia, with the presence of approximately 200 researchers from 17 countries.
The event, initiated by Tunisian Minister of Higher Education and Research, Monder Belaid, concludes tomorrow, October 30, and addresses the transition from "environmental crises" to "integral ecology." Sessions delve into the impact of climate change, pollution, and degradation on chronic diseases, heat waves, environmental inequalities, and community resilience.
Italian-Tunisian cooperation and the COSTA project
A focal point of the conference is the COSTA project, funded by the European Interreg NEXT Italy-Tunisia program and coordinated by the University of Messina, with the participation of the universities of Palermo and Sousse, and the Tunisian National Institute of Marine Sciences and Technologies (INSTM). With an investment of approximately €984 million, COSTA aims to combat marine pollution by monitoring contaminants in water, sediments, and organisms, developing innovative biological filters, and testing sustainable solutions for restoring the Mediterranean.
During the final session, the creation of the One Health World Association was announced , with its headquarters planned for Italy. Professor Margherita Ferrante was elected president, while Tunisian researcher Mohamed Banni served as vice president. The association aims to strengthen international cooperation and promote integrated prevention of health and environmental risks.
The first One Health certifications in Italy
In parallel, a conference was held in Rome at the Ministry of Health (October 29) to launch the new One Health Foundation certification system. Ten organizations received the first certification, called the Oriented level , which requires compliance with 14 specific criteria verified by an independent scientific committee. The certification aims to make the organizations' commitment to safeguarding global health tangible, providing a tool for transparency for citizens.
Institutional agreements and the role of hospitals
During the conference, two memoranda of understanding were signed: one with the Ministry of Health, represented by Giovanni Leonardi, Director of the Department of Human, Animal, and Ecosystem Health, and the other with the Italian Federation of Healthcare and Hospital Authorities (FIASO), chaired by Giuseppe Quintavalle. The agreements aim to integrate training, prevention, and global health communication into hospital settings, considering them ideal places to implement One Health principles.
Quintavalle emphasized that healthcare facilities can no longer ignore the environmental impact of their operations; the healthcare sector is responsible for approximately 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Adopting more sustainable practices and assessing environmental impacts therefore becomes an integral part of the healthcare mission.
A linden tree in Cles: a symbol of integrated health
In the small town of Cles (Trentino), the Valli del Noce Hospital participated in the national project "A Tree for Health" by planting a young linden tree in its garden. The initiative, promoted by FADOI in collaboration with the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Biodiversity, involves 34 Italian hospitals and aims to make the connection between human well-being and ecosystem integrity tangible . The ceremony was attended by Director Serena Pancheri, Captain Alexis Reina, and Mayor Stella Menapace.
The gesture was accompanied by alarming data: according to the WHO, air pollution causes approximately 6,6 million deaths each year, while more than 60% of emerging infectious diseases originate from animals. Pancheri reiterated that, for a mountain hospital, protecting the surrounding environment is a fundamental part of its healthcare mission. The tree, therefore, becomes a living symbol of the need to reduce the environmental impact of healthcare facilities and promote the health of the communities where they operate.