He explained that this ninth edition of the One Planet Summits brings together around fifty countries and international and regional organizations, including Egypt, represented by Health Minister Khaled Abdel-Ghaffar. Nearly 3,000 participants are attending the summit to address the major challenges affecting human, animal, and environmental health.
Strengthening dialogue and cooperation among political leaders, society, scientists, and younger generations serves one ultimate goal: achieving equitable and sustainable health for all.
In remarks to Al-Ahram Online, Ambassador Chevallier added that this historic meeting is being held in “the heart of Lyon, France’s global health capital.”
For the first time, countries are gathering at the highest level to place the “One Health” approach at the core of public policies, he explained.
This approach recognizes the close interconnection between human, animal, and plant health as well as ecosystems.
Protecting one aspect of this “health” means safeguarding the others. Health, climate, biodiversity, water, and food are all linked, and the barriers between them must be broken down.
The summit is being attended by leaders of international and regional organizations, hundreds of scientists, business executives, financial sector stakeholders, elected officials, youth representatives, and civil society members—all committed to improving the health of all living beings and our planet, he noted.
Experts from a range of disciplines are leading events showcasing the tools available and the goals that must be met to secure a healthy and prosperous future.
The summit's impact will not be confined to Lyon. A festival featuring nearly 200 events across France and around the world, running from 16 March to 15 May, further highlights the importance of the "One Health" approach.
The ambassador stressed that France is giving full support to improving healthcare services in Egypt. He pointed to the work of the French Development Agency (AFD), which has been helping to implement universal health coverage since 2019.
The initiative is expected to have a particularly strong impact on women and vulnerable families, who have often lacked insurance cover in the past.
Accelerating research, providing training, preserving the effectiveness of antibiotics, reducing diseases transmitted by animals or insects, improving food systems, protecting biodiversity, reducing pollution, mitigating the effects of climate change, and ensuring mental well-being — these issues are guiding international discussions aimed at transforming every intention into collective, beneficial, and coherent action.
The ambassador called for working together, starting today, to prevent risks so that we can respond more effectively.
“Let us never forget: the health of every individual depends on the health of all. The One Health approach must become our compass. It must become our instinctive response.”
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