One Health Approaches to Food Systems

This topic explores the integrated One Health approach to food systems, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. For Zambian tertiary students in microbiology, veterinary science, and public health, this involves studying zoonotic disease transmission, antimicrobial resistance in food production, and the environmental determinants of food safety. The curriculum examines how agricultural practices, wildlife conservation, and food processing methods influence disease emergence and spread, with relevant examples from Zambia and the region. Students will learn surveillance methods for foodborne pathogens, risk assessment frameworks, and strategies for preventing zoonotic spillover at the human-animal-environment interface. This includes understanding the role of ecosystems in disease regulation and how climate change affects disease patterns. Mastery of One Health principles prepares graduates for careers in disease control, food safety regulation, and environmental health, enabling them to address complex health challenges in Zambia's food systems through collaborative, cross-sectoral approaches.