UDs soars high at the YOHF 2023

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Prof Felix Meutchieye backs Best oral presentation in the Platinum category

Yaounde, UDs/SIC-4/11/23. The University of Dschang once again soared high at the international scene, as one of its lecturers’, Prof. Felix Meutchieye, Head of the Department of Animal Science at the Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Sciences (FAAS) of the University of Dschang backed best oral presentation in the platinum category awards (the highest) at the Yaoundé One Health Forum #YOHF2023. This event, which took place from the 2nd to the 3rd of November 2023 was a maiden edition and was convened under the distinguished patronage of the Prime Minister, His Excellency Chief Dr. Dion Ngute. The seminal event, had as theme “A Decade of One Health Implementation in Sub-Saharan Africa: Achievements, Challenges, and Future Prospects for Health Security,” marked the celebration of World One Health Day 2023.

This award was obtained through a presentation by Prof. Felix Meutchieye on a paper titled « Bushmeat trade Characteristics and the Potential associated Health Risks in Mbam and Inoubou Division of Cameroon. He co-authored the paper with Eric Balog, one of his Engineer Student whose expertise was to show case the bushmeat consumption dynamics and related consequences. It is worthy of mentioned that during YOFH 2023, 21 personalities from various political, administrative, associative and academic backgrounds received awards for their contribution to the operationalization and promotion of One Health in Cameroon.

The forum was coordinated by the Cameroon One Health Platform, alongside valued Technical and Financial Partners (AFROHUN, USAID…), the forum attracted unprecedented engagement with  over 700 delegates from 18 nations and touched on every corner of expertise, including policymaker’s, representatives of line ministries, academia, researchers, technical and financial partners, the private sector and civil society activists.

The YOFH 2023 was aimed at tackling the urgent global health security agenda, served as an essential platform to appraise progress, pinpoint hurdles, exchange knowledge, and propagate best practices. It featured six symposia, three plenary gatherings, and four supplementary events, attracting recognized experts. Participants engaged in a rich mix of four oral and poster communication sessions, ten panels, and three working groups, fostering a collaborative spirit energized by dynamic dialogue and shared insights. The discourse at the forum aligned with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 ambitions, culminating in a collective reaffirmation to further the One Health approach across sub-Saharan Africa. The attendees recognized the imperative of bolstering cross-sector cooperation, invigorating research, and enacting robust policies and programs. To many, it was a platform to foster development; the forum served as a pivotal stage to propose and contemplate viable strategies, propelling the One Health mission forward in Cameroon and across sub-Saharan Africa.” Prof.  Mouiche Moctar, Head of the YOHF Scientific Committee stated.

«This first edition of the Yaoundé One Health Forum, which is anchored in the celebration of World One Health Day, is a unique opportunity to discuss key achievements and define the way forward to fully implement One Health strategies in countries. This day embodies the realization of a dream, the dream of the One Health platform of our beautiful country to gather here in Yaoundé, people from different backgrounds, disciplines, sectors or fields around the same table to discuss the common issue of health». Mr LEKEALEM Joseph, Director of Wildlife and Protected Areas, MINFOF, President of the YOHF Organizing Committee.

UDs had a few participants at the forum who also showcased their intellectual brilliance as moderators, facilitators and experts in various domain and it is obvious that more recognition of excellence looms in the days ahead of this vibrant lecturers./