One Health Workforce - Next Gen

The Vietnam One Health University Network (VOHUN), established in 2011 with the support of USAID, promotes and develops the concept of One Health, a collaborative, multisectoral, and transdisciplinary approach with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and their shared environment[1]. The One Health Workforce – Next Gen project builds on this network to bring together 22 Vietnamese universities from the fields of medicine, veterinary science, nursing and public health to coordinate these efforts in Vietnam and to sustainably develop and deliver leading model programs to equip professionals with trans-disciplinary skills to address complex global health issues.

DEVELOP AND SUPPORT ONE HEALTH WORKFORCE

This project develops, delivers, and institutionalizes training and educational offerings in alignment with prioritized One Health core competencies and technical skills, including contributing to four master’s degree programs as well as several academic modules. The project also supports 15 One Health student clubs at 21 faculties/universities, totaling nearly 1700 members representing a variety of disciplines, ranging from public health, preventive medicine, nursing, veterinary studies, food technology, and animal husbandry. The One Health clubs provide students the opportunity to work together to learn how to address One Health challenges and raise awareness in communities on infectious and zoonotic disease prevention and control.  Additional support includes field-based training courses on zoonotic disease prevention plans for health and veterinary staff. The project also establishes procedures to assess and track multisectoral workforce placement, performance and impact. 

STRENGTHEN NETWORKS FOR SUSTAINABILITY

To ensure sustainability, this project contributes to regional efforts, through the Southeast Asia One Health University Network (SEAOHUN), to strengthen the functional and organizational capacities of the university networks, including support for acquisition and management of direct donor funding.

EXPECTED RESULTS

Through its support to university programs and networks, as well as health and veterinary professionals, the One Health Workforce – Next Gen project will continue to strengthen Vietnam’s capacity to prevent and respond to zoonotic diseases and increase Vietnam’s effectiveness to control priority global health threats across the One Health spectrum.