Communicating Antimicrobial Resistance through a One Health Student Club Competition
Rapidly emerging antibiotic resistance is increasingly recognized as a global health threat, which can lead to life threatening medical conditions and human fatalities. To promote awareness of and effective communication on antibiotic resistance, the Vietnam One Health University Network (VOHUN) held a One Health Student Club (OHSC) competition at the Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy in December 2022. VOHUN organized the contest in cooperation with five Vietnamese OHSCs, including Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy (TBUMP), Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy (HPUMP), Hanoi Medical University (HMU), Hanoi University of Public Health (HUPH), and Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture and Forestry (TUAF). The primary goals of the activity were to enhance knowledge on AMR and promote the significance of the One Health approach in the prevention and control of AMR by leveraging One Health competencies in health promotion.
To begin the competition, the OHSC management board preliminarily selected the top twelve candidates from each club to participate. Faculty mentors delivered an online training course to share current knowledge on AMR and highlight collaborative One Health approaches, including interdisciplinary collaboration, risk communication and community engagement methodologies critical to addressing this complex and dynamic global health challenge. During the contest, sixty students from five OHSCs were divided into four interdisciplinary teams, with each team competing in three rounds of introduction, knowledge sharing, and communication for AMR awareness. Each team applied AMR knowledge to answer the judges' questions quickly and effectively. Students from each team also performed theatrical skits to demonstrate how to communicate effectively on AMR.
In the last round of the contest each team was provided a statement on AMR to develop presentations and skits which were scored by faculty mentors and their peers. Students from each team demonstrated how to communicate effectively on AMR and the best team was chosen at the end of the competition. Students actively participated in the contest and gained confidence and professional knowledge on how to solve AMR problems using a One Health approach.
"I had a lot of fun with this contest because it provided me a chance to exchange my existing knowledge with other team members. Also, I learned a lot about AMR from the contest, including the importance of teamwork"
"This kind of activity is really meaningful for me, especially for the chance to exchange knowledge and build up communication skills that are very useful for me. I also want to thank the organizers and facilitators for this activity."
Communication round (performing a play) credit: TBUMP
VOHUN UPDATES
About VOHUN
Vietnam One Health University Network (VOHUN) was established in 2011, with the support of USAID, through the RESPOND project. VOHUN has connected 20 Vietnamese universities from the field of medicine, veterinary science, public health, nursing and food technology to promote the One Health (OH) approach, through university training and research, to equip a new generation of lecturers and researchers with a full range of knowledge and skills to practice the OH approach. The One Health Workforce Project: OHW (2014-2019) and Next Generation (NG) (2020-2025) aims to strengthen the One Health university network and member universities, to support workforce development, education, and training opportunities that are relevant to local health needs and international health standards.
VOHUN Achievements
ONE HEALTH TRAINING PROGRAMS
VOHUN has used the 7 core competencies and 08 technical modules developed to contribute several OH training programs:
Pre-service training programs:
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International Master of Public Health, One Health oriented, Hanoi Medical University.
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Master of Public Health majoring in Environmental Health, Hanoi University of Public Health.
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Master of Veterinary Medicine, specialized in Public Health, Nong Lam University in Ho Chi Minh city.
Pre-service Modules:
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OH module
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OH and Zoonoses module, Vietnam National University of Agriculture.
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OH and Wildlife diseases module, Vietnam National University of Agriculture.
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OH and Environment and Livestock waste management module, Hue University of Agriculture and Forestry.
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OH training course for students through fieldtrip, VOHUN university members
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BioRisk Management module
In-service training program:
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One Health field-based training course for health and veterinary staff.
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Training course on applying One Health core competencies to develop the zoonotic disease prevention plan for health and veterinary staff
One Health Workforce Next Generation (2019-2024)
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Develop, deliver, and institutionalize training and educational offerings in alignment with prioritized One Health core competencies and technical skills.
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Establish systems, policies, and procedures to assess and track multisectoral workforce placement, performance, and impact.
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Strengthen the functional and organizational capacities of the regional OH university networks to ensure they are capable of acquiring and managing direct donor funding.
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Organizational Development of a Sustainable VOHUN.
ONE HEALTH STUDENT CLUBS
There are totally 15 OH student clubs (OHSC) with nearly 1700 members for 21 faculties/universities since 2015. OHSC have the participants of different disciplines, such as: public health, preventive medicine, nursing, veterinary, food technology and husbandry. Students have been given the opportunity to work together with colleagues from other disciplines to learn how to address OH challenges in communities and to raise awareness of communities on infectious and zoonotic diseases prevention and control through activities including seminars, community visits and field-based learning.
VOHUN 2020
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Bac Giang Agriculture and Forestry University
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Buon Ma Thuot University
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Can Tho University
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Can Tho University of Medicine & Pharmacy
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Dong A University (Faculty of Medicine)
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Hai Phong University of Medicine & Pharmacy
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Hanoi University of Public Health*
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Hanoi Medical University*
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Hanoi University of Natural resources and Environment
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Ho Chi Minh City Medicine and Pharmacy University*
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Ho Chi Minh City Agriculture & Forestry University*
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Hue University of Medicine & Pharmacy
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Hue University of Agriculture & Forestry*
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Nam Dinh University of Nursing
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Nghe An University of Economics
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Nong Lam University at Ho Chi Minh
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Quy Nhon University
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Tay Nguyen University (Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy, Faculty of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Medicine)
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Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy
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Thai Nguyen University of Medicine & Pharmacy
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Thai Nguyen University of Agriculture & Forestry
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Tra Vinh University (Faculty of Agriculture and Aquaculture, Faculty of Medicine & Pharmacy)
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School of Medicine and Pharmacy, Vietnam National University, Hanoi
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Phenikaa University (Faculty of Biotechnology, Chemistry, and Environmental Engineer, Faculty of Nursing, Faculty of Medicine Technology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Medicine)
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Vietnam National University of Agriculture*
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Viet-Duc University
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Vinh Medical University
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Vinh Long University of Technology and Education (Faculty of Food Technology)
* Founding Universities and Faculties
