By: Muhammad Zafarul Adib Zaidi | zafarul@upm.edu.my

SERDANG, 27 April - The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine (FPV), in collaboration with the Centre for Management of Waqf, Zakat and Infaq (WAZAN), Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), organised the Animal Welfare@VET Webinar, UPM Series 4/2026 titled “Keselamatan Kesihatan untuk Semua melalui Pendekatan One Health.” This programme is part of an ongoing educational initiative that highlights the interconnected relationship between human, animal, and environmental health in ensuring overall well-being and food safety.

The webinar aimed to raise awareness on the importance of ethical farming practices and their role in preventing health risks, particularly zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The speaker, Prof. Dr. Abdul Rahman Omar from FPV UPM, explained that the One Health approach requires multisectoral and transdisciplinary collaboration to address health threats holistically, given that a significant proportion of infectious diseases originate from interactions between humans and animals.

The discussion also elaborated on the drivers of disease emergence, including land-use changes, unsustainable intensive farming, wildlife trade, and climate change. Participants were exposed to how pathogen spillover can occur due to close interactions between humans, domestic animals, and wildlife, thereby increasing the risk of future pandemics if biosecurity, animal welfare, and environmental conservation are not adequately addressed.

In addition, the webinar emphasised the importance of governance and policy in implementing the One Health approach in Malaysia. The sharing included the country’s experience in managing outbreaks such as Nipah, HPAI H5N1, and rabies, which demonstrates the need for close collaboration between the human health, veterinary, and environmental sectors in addressing public health issues in an integrated manner.

Overall, the programme underscored that the One Health approach must be translated from concept into action through the collective efforts of all stakeholders, including livestock operators, policymakers, and the community. The organisation of this webinar is expected to strengthen public understanding and promote more ethical, sustainable, and safe farming practices to ensure the well-being of animals, humans, and the environment.

Introduction of the speaker’s biography by the moderator

The speaker’s sharing session is currently in progress

Commemorative photo with participants

Click the media below to watch the recorded video:

Click the media below to access the speaker’s slides:

Date of Input: 27/04/2026 | Updated: 27/04/2026 | zafarul