One Health Education
Strengthening One Health Education in Southeast Asia
Since late 2020, Chevron has supported SEAOHUN’s “Strengthening One Health Education in Southeast Asia” project, reflecting Chevron’s mission to empower people through impactful education and training. Initially, the project focused on expanding One Health education beyond universities to include schools (kindergarten through Grade 9) and communities, in partnership with the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Tropical Medicine and Public Health Network (TROPMED), SEAMEO STEM-ED, and the Tropical Disease Research Center (TDRC) of Khon Kaen University.
This expansion, made possible by Chevron’s support, also helped fill funding gaps in SEAOHUN student engagement programs and facilitated the expansion of work in the Philippines.
One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. It recognizes the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and inter-dependent. The approach mobilizes multiple sectors, disciplines and communities at varying levels of society to work together to foster well-being and tackle threats to health and ecosystems, while addressing the collective need for clean water, energy and air, safe and nutritious food, taking action on climate change, and contributing to sustainable development.
Definition of “One Health” by the One Health High-Level Expert Panel (OHHLEP)
Building on the successes of Phase I, Phase II (January 2023 to December 2025) has broadened collaboration to include the Faculty of Education at Kasetsart University, SEAMEO SEPS, and SEAMEO TED, among others. This phase introduces several key components designed to advance One Health education across the region, ensuring the initiative continues to grow and reach new communities.
As a result of these efforts, SEAOHUN has made significant strides in becoming an affiliate member of SEAMEO. With the strong engagement of SEAMEO TROPMED and SEAMEO STEM-ED during Phase I, SEAOHUN submitted its application in November 2021 to advocate for One Health education at all levels through the SEAMEO ministerial platform.
TDRC 2015
The three project components of Phase I
Component 1: Promoting One Health Education in Thai Border Schools,
Component 2: Strengthening One Health University Networks,
Component 3: Applying One Health to Solve Community Health Issues.
The project covers One Health education from school-aged children and their teachers, university students and their professors, to practicing health professionals in solving complex health issues in their communities. The increased knowledge and practice of One Health will better prepare the Southeast Asia region to combat infectious disease outbreaks originating from animals.
