One Health: How to Build an Italian Model

Abstract

Introduction:

The Concept of One Health is a cross-sectoral approach that aims at the protection of humans, animals, and the environment acknowledging their interconnection at a global, regional and local level.

The "One Health" approach is officially recognized by the Italian Ministry of Health, and in the Lombardy Region, which has included it as a pillar of the new reform law of the regional health system (LR n.22 of 2021). All international organizations, as a relevant strategy in all sectors, benefit from the collaboration between different disciplines (doctors, veterinarians, environmentalists, economists, sociologists, etc.).

Method:

Disseminating basic knowledge of the "One Health" public health approach among the hospital staff of the hospital’s Complex of Valtellina and Alto Lario (with three hospitals), in consideration of the geographic location, far from urban Hospital centers and in the Alpine Mountain area.

Promoting the culture of “One Health” through a hospital information and training campaign in recognizing the health of people, animals and ecosystems are interconnected, involving the population in cultural change. To create the basis for networks of collaboration in a multidisciplinary approach, especially at the level of human-animal interface, such as the surveillance of the emerging zoonoses in the light of the climate changes, using models from research to complex networks.

Results:

Promoting the application of an approach collaborative, multidisciplinary, inter-sectorial, and coordinated to address potential or existing risks, which originate from the interface between animal-human ecosystems. To disseminate a new public health culture based on “One Health" concepts and on future planning prospects and vision to the population as well.

Conclusion:

One Health represents a new paradigm of the vision of public health on a global level, which implies an awareness and a challenge of cultural change for the development of a more sustainable future.