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Cabo Verde recently hosted its own IHR–PVS National Bridging Workshop (NBW), bringing together national and international stakeholders to strengthen collaboration across human, animal, and environmental health sectors. The workshop leverages key international frameworks to foster multisectoral collaboration, including; the WHO’s International Health Regulations (IHR, 2005) and its Monitoring & Evaluation Framework (MEF) and WOAH’s Performance of Veterinary Services (PVS) Pathway, complemented with the assessments relating to the environment and climate, implemented by UNEP.
The health of people, animals, and ecosystems is deeply interconnected. Most emerging and endemic human diseases originate in animals, while antimicrobial misuse threatens both food security and public health. In acknowledging these challenges, and the need for a One Health approach with coordinated efforts with different stakeholders, Cabo Verde leveraged the NBW workshop to strengthen multisectoral collaborations.
The three-day workshop, which has been conducted in over 60 countries globally so far, brings together national professionals from the human, animal and environmental health sectors, with the purpose of fostering intersectoral collaboration, identifying existing operational gaps and building a joint national roadmap that strengthens the prevention, detection and response to health threats that circulate between people, animals and the environment.
The workshop in Praia was facilitated by a team of technical experts from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) and the World Health Organization (WHO), with provision for simultaneous (Portuguese, English, French) interpretation.
The workshop was organized under the framework of the Health Security Program for Western and Central Africa (HeSP), with funding support from the World Bank. Key partners include WOAH, WHO, FAO, and the West Africa Health Organization (WAHO), alongside national authorities.
The workshop began with the opening ceremony on 19th November 2025, with opening remarks from the representative of the National Directorate of Health (Direcção Nacional de Saude, DNS), Dr Yorleydis Rosabal, WHO Country Representative Dr Ann Lindstrand, WOAH Regional One Health Officer Dr Lillian Wambua and the Director for Livestock and Veterinary Services Dr Ana-Lina Olende.
Dr. Ana-Lina Olende officially opened the event, emphasising Cabo Verde’s unique position as an island nation, which presents both benefits and health challenges such as extreme weather events, vector-borne diseases, and the potential introduction of animal diseases and zoonoses through trade.
Over the three days, participants engaged in dynamic, interactive sessions which combined presentations, case studies, and group exercises. Using examples of case studies of priority zoonotic diseases in Cabo Verde, participants deliberated on the level of collaboration across sectors. On the second day of the workshop participants went through the international frameworks and assessments with a deep dive into the Joint External Evaluation (JEE) and of the PVS Evaluation of Cabo Verde.
Noting the synergies between these international assessments, participants were able to appreciate how improved multisectoral collaborations would result in better compliance to the international health frameworks, while improving health outcomes across the animal-human-environment interface.
On the last day of the workshop, the participants engaged in defining and refining a joint national roadmap for multisectoral collaboration, addressing the identified gaps. The joint roadmap outlined a shared vision for implementation of the One Health approach in Cabo Verde, with clear objectives and smart activities in coordination at different level of government, joint risk assessment, surveillance and laboratory, amongst others. Finally, the national One Health platform led the participants in discussing linkages and integration of the national joint roadmap with national action plans and global frameworks.
By holding the NBW, Cabo Verde joins a growing international movement, commmitted to operationalising the One Health approach, reinforcing preparedness against current and future health threats. Through alignment and building bridges between sectors, Cabo Verde is reinforcing its commitment to protecting the health of animals, people and ecosystems, while contributing to regional and global One Health goals.
Credits : national media outlet (Radio-Television of Cabo Verde)
