Autor: Iain J. Gordon

Esther Schelling is the Head of Innovations, Learning and Quality Assurance at Vétérinaires sans Frontières Suisse (VSF-Suisse). After more than 20 years of research on health of pastoralists, zoonoses and One Health approaches at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, she wanted to foster implementation of gained main lessons. She is co-editor of the textbook «One Health: The theory and practice of integrated health approaches» (2015/2020). The added value of a closer cooperation between the health sectors are seen in the earlier recognition of health events, in better control of zoonosis and more efficient surveillance and integrated health services – but should be shown more explicitly. The OH4 HEAL project led by VSF-Suisse seeks to improve integrated health services for families, their livestock, and the environment they live in pastoral cross-border regions of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somali.