On 30 April 2026, the UAE Pharmacy Students Federation – Gulf Medical University Chapter (UPSF-GMU) successfully organized an engaging awareness session titled the One Health Approach at Gulf Medical University.
The event centered around one of the most important concepts in modern healthcare, the idea that human, animal, and environmental health are deeply interconnected, and that addressing health challenges requires collaboration across medicine, veterinary science, and environmental fields. Students were introduced to the foundations of the One Health Approach, which was mainly developed in the 19th and 20th centuries through contributions by scientists such as Rudolf Virchow and Calvin Schwabe. The approach gained renewed global significance with the rise of emerging zoonotic diseases such as SARS and avian influenza in the early 21st century.
Today, the One Health approach is widely recognized and supported by major international organizations including the World Health Organization (WHO), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), and the One Health Commission.
Through informative brochures and discussions, students explored how the One Health Approach promotes interdisciplinary collaboration to prevent and manage health threats that transcend the boundaries between species and ecosystems. The event also encouraged participants to critically reflect on health from a broader, integrated perspective, highlighting the growing importance of this approach in addressing global health challenges.
Aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):
SDG 3: Good Health and Well Being; SDG 4: Quality Education; SDG 15: Life on Land
