On the morning of October 27, 2026, at the Lao Cai Provincial Sub-Department of Crop Production, Plant Protection, Livestock Production, Veterinary Medicine, and Fisheries, the Institute of Environmental Health and Sustainable Development (IEHSD), in coordination with provincial departments and agencies, successfully organized an advance meeting to launch the project “ILRI-IEHSD partnership in One Health research and operationalization” (Vietnam One Health Lab).
1. General Meeting Information
- Time: Commenced at 14:00, October 27, 2026.
- Location: Lao Cai Provincial Sub-Department of Crop Production, Plant Protection, Livestock Production, Veterinary Medicine, and Fisheries.
- Attendees:
- Representing IEHSD and Donors: Dr. Pham Duc Phuc – Director of IEHSD and One Health Expert; Dr. Dang Xuan Sinh – Representative of the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI); along with members of the working delegation.
- Representing Lao Cai Province: Representatives of the leadership from the Sub-Department of Crop Production, Plant Protection, Livestock Production, Veterinary Medicine, and Fisheries (host unit); alongside representatives, leaders, and specialists from various agencies, including: Center for Disease Control (CDC), Food Safety Division (Department of Health), Forest Protection Sub-Department, Sub-Department of Quality and Rural Development, and the Sub-Department of Environment, Meteorology, Hydrology, and Climate Change.
2. Key Discussion Topics
The meeting was held under Activity 1 of the non-project, aiming to establish the field site and develop Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for inter-sectoral coordination following the One Health approach.
Delegates focused on discussing the following key content:
- Evaluation of the Legal Framework and Current Coordination Status: Participants unanimously agreed that while the current provincial-level coordination model has established a foundation (such as the inter-sectoral coordination regulations between Health and Veterinary sectors), it still needs to be expanded synchronously down to the district and commune levels. Furthermore, it requires more proactive participation from the Environment and Forestry sectors. The establishment of the One Health Lab will help standardize technical protocols and enhance monitoring of zoonotic diseases, meat chain food safety, and antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
- Discussion on Criteria and Options for Selecting Pilot Communes: Considerable time was dedicated to discussing selection criteria for pilot communes implementation through mid-2027. Selected communes must meet the following core criteria:
- Possess large-scale and high-density livestock farming with potential food safety and disease risks.
- Inherit and promote existing technological platforms (such as the application of information technology in disease surveillance in Xuan Quang commune).
- Party committees and local authority leaders must be genuinely invested, committed to accompanying the project, and proactive in allocating resources to sustain local One Health Working Group operations.
3. Conclusion and Next Steps
Concluding the meeting, representatives of the Project Steering Committee and the Lao Cai Provincial Sub-Department of Crop Production, Plant Protection, Livestock Production, Veterinary Medicine, and Fisheries acknowledged the profound contributions from the various departments and sectors.
- Next Steps: The Project Management Unit (IEHSD) will work closely with the Sub-Department and relevant agencies to consolidate feedback, finalize the draft expanded coordination regulations, and complete the SOP coordination guidelines. They will conduct field surveys in potential communes in November 2026 to finalize the list of pilot communes, prepare for Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signings, and organize training for local officials by the end of 2026.
The meeting concluded at 16:00 on the same day with high consensus and agreement among all attending delegates.