Amman, Aug. 17 (Petra) -- The Third International Conference on One Health and Veterinary Innovations opened in Amman on Monday under the patronage of HRH Princess Alia bint Al Hussein, bringing together researchers and specialists from 10 countries to examine emerging risks at the intersection of human, animal and environmental health.
The three-day conference, organized by the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST), focuses on zoonotic and emerging diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety, climate and environmental change, as well as advances in veterinary diagnostics, treatment and healthcare.
Researchers, academics and experts from Jordan, the United Kingdom, Portugal, Malaysia, Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Lebanon are taking part in the event.
JUST President Khalid El-Salem said growing health and environmental pressures have transformed the One Health concept from a scientific framework into an increasingly important approach to managing interconnected risks.
He said zoonotic and emerging diseases, antimicrobial resistance, food safety and climate and environmental change have direct implications for health and food security, as well as the ability of societies to anticipate and respond to emerging threats.
Addressing these challenges requires closer coordination across sectors and disciplines, El-Salem said, noting that the conference is intended to help translate scientific understanding into integrated and preventive policies and practices.
Its agenda is also aligned with Jordan's national priorities and Economic Modernization Vision, particularly in the areas of quality of life, food security, innovation and sustainability, he added.
El-Salem highlighted the importance of strengthening prevention and early surveillance, combating antimicrobial resistance and protecting the food chain, while developing systems capable of identifying health and environmental risks before they develop into wider crises.
El-Salem said scientific research should ultimately translate into practical solutions and inform public policy, noting that JUST's combination of medical, veterinary, pharmaceutical, agricultural, engineering and scientific disciplines provides a platform for cross-disciplinary research.
He also highlighted the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine's role as Jordan's only veterinary college, alongside its veterinary teaching hospital, which serves as a center for veterinary education and healthcare.
The faculty's work extends to livestock protection, food safety, surveillance of zoonotic and emerging diseases and broader public health, he said.
El-Salem said the university is seeking to use the conference to develop new research partnerships and joint projects, improve mechanisms for sharing information and data, strengthen disease surveillance and produce practical scientific recommendations for policymakers.
Such cooperation could also strengthen the ability of national and regional institutions to prepare for health and environmental risks, while supporting Jordan's position as a regional platform for scientific dialogue and One Health cooperation, he added.
Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Dean Maysar Al-Qakish said the conference seeks to move One Health from a scientific concept toward coordinated implementation by connecting veterinary medicine, public health and environmental expertise.
She said closer cooperation among universities, government institutions, international organizations and the private sector is central to that approach.
The program includes scientific sessions and practical workshops, alongside an exhibition featuring pharmaceutical, diagnostic and technological innovations, allowing participants to exchange expertise and review recent developments across One Health disciplines.
Following the opening session, Princess Alia inaugurated the veterinary medicine exhibition and received a commemorative medal from the university president in recognition of her patronage of the conference and continued support for animal health, welfare and protection.
The conference runs through Wednesday.
//Petra// RZ
