Empowering One Health Innovators: SEAOHUN 2024 Student Summit
Under the inspiring theme "Empowering One Health Innovators,"the SEAOHUN 2024 Student Summit brought together the brightest minds from across Southeast Asian and beyond. Held from 11 to 16 December 2024 in Kuala Lumpur and Perak, Malaysia, the summit celebrated the winners of the SEAOHUN 2024 Regional Student Competition.
Thanks to the generous support of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Chevron, and in collaboration with the Malaysia One Health University Network (MyOHUN), this transformative event provided a platform to learn, network, and innovate.
The summit welcomed 39 student winners and their mentors from seven SEAOHUN member countries, along with winners from Bangladesh. With the addition of distinguished speakers from Malaysia and the USA, as well as a representative from USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia, the event drew a total of 56 participants from nine countries.
Participants kicked off the summit with an exciting hop-on-hop-off city tour of Kuala Lumpur, immersing themselves in the city’s rich culture and cosmopolitan energy. The official launch on 12 December featured welcoming remarks from USAID RDMA, Chevron, SEAOHUN, and MyOHUN.
Relocating to the serene Felda Residence Hot Spring in Sungkai, the summit delved into hands-on training facilitated by experts from MyOHUN. Key topics included:
One Health & Wildlife Conservation: Exploring the critical integration of conservation and One Health principles.
Unifying Forces: Mastering One Health Core Competencies: Covering essential areas such as policy, advocacy, and regulation.
Inspiring Young One Health Innovators: Encouraging creative solutions to tackle global health challenges.
Participants shared their reflections, highlighting the program's impact:
Ms. Soben Sieng, a mentor from Cambodia, emphasized, “Ecosystem changes increase zoonotic disease risks and biodiversity loss. Scientists from human, environmental, and animal sectors must join forces for effective One Health approaches and wildlife conservation.”
Ms. Fahmida Afrin Fariha from Bangladesh expressed, “This training inspired me to think creatively, communicate confidently, and see how One Health connects humans, animals, and the environment.”
A highlight of the summit was the field visits to the National Wildlife Rescue Centre and Wildlife Conservation Centre Sungkai on December 14. These visits offered firsthand insights into wildlife conservation, the role of veterinarians, and practices like wildlife surveillance and data management.
Ms. Wan Aimi Nabilah from Malaysia shared, “The visit to PERHILITAN deepened my understanding of balancing human activities with environmental health to prevent zoonotic diseases.” Similarly, Ms. Ninh Nguyen Thi from Vietnam reflected, “The summit provided invaluable knowledge essential for my future as a preventive medicine professional.”
The summit concluded with a Prize-Giving Ceremony, recognizing exceptional participants with awards such as Best One Health Communicator, Best One Health Leader, and Best Mentor. Participants also shone in activities like the Food Web Challenge, Pitching Competition, Outdoor Games, andthe vibrant Cultural Night, which celebrated the rich traditions of all represented countries.
The SEAOHUN 2024 Student Summit exemplified SEAOHUN's mission to nurture future One Health leaders. By equipping students with essential skills, knowledge, and networks, the summit empowers young innovators to tackle global health challenges collaboratively and sustainably.
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