One Health: Connecting Humans, Animals and the Environment

The free Massive Open Online Course (MOOC) "One Health: Connecting Humans, Animals and the Environment", starting September 25, 2017, and running for six weeks, provides the theoretical foundations and hands-on practical methods for planning and implementing integrated approaches to health care. It is offered by the One Health expert group at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute (Swiss TPH) together with the University of Basel. The lead educators at Swiss TPH are Jakob Zinsstag, Esther Schelling and Bassirou Bonfoh.

The online course addresses those interested in the relationship between humans and animals in different cultures and how to describe these qualitatively and quantitatively, particularly non-professionals as well as health professionals and those working in politics, NGOs, and also students of veterinary and human medicine throughout the world.

During its first run in 2016, over 3000 learners from all over the world participated. “This was the best One Health course I have experienced so far, and I will absolutely recommend it to everyone,” says a participant.

Swiss TPH and One Health

The members of the Human and Animal Health unit at Swiss TPH develop theoretical and methodological foundations for integrated human and animal health approaches. "We understand One Health as the added value of closer cooperation of human and animal health in terms of better health of humans and animals, financial savings and better environmental services," says Zinsstag. "From a One Health ethical point of view animals should not suffer for the benefit of better human health. Thus we seek to improve human and animal health at the same time."

The next course turn is not yet fixed.