The ELEPHANT project recently held a training workshop under the theme ‘One Health in Theory’. This training workshop took place at the Southern African Wildlife College and was attended by participants from SA HEIs (Universities of Pretoria, Mpumalanga, Venda, Fort Hare and Limpopo), international HEIs (Universities of Utrecht and Bologna).
The presentations, discussions and activities during field visits demonstrated that symbiotic relationships exist between humans, livestock, wildlife, and the environment. In these relationships, human health is dependent and can influence the health of other three components. This illustrated the necessity to include all these components in our investigations and the fight against infectious diseases. Practical exercises during the workshop trained participants to formulate objectives and research questions for ‘One Health’ based on perceived problems and participants experiences. It is anticipated that participants will infuse ‘One Health’ approach in their research activities.
Through this project, two staff members and one Postdoctoral fellow were given the opportunity to be trained on these One Health principles – Dr Jean Pierre Kabue is a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology and part of the One Health research group; Dr Mpumelelo Rikhotso, a Postdoctoral fellow in the Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology and part of the One Health research group and Mr Avhafunani Justice Netshipale, Lecturer in the Animal Sciences Department.
UNIVEN participants: Dr Mpumelelo Rikhotso, Mr Justice Netshipale and Dr Jean Pierre Kabue
Issued by:
Department of Marketing, Branding and Communication
University of Venda
Tel: (015) 962 8525 / 8710
Date: 13 July 2022
