Close up of a woman wearing a colourful skirt and shirt holding hay with a chicken in the background.

Ecohealth & One Health

From the beginning, Veterinarians Without Borders has kept an eye on the Big Picture when designing and implementing projects around the world. Our approach is best defined by the related concepts of Ecohealth and One Health, which suggest that people and animals can only be healthy if the environment they live in is healthy.

This means clean air and water, soil healthy enough to support plants, and animals - both wild and domestic - that are healthy and available as sources of food that will not transmit disease to humans.

Our approach ensures that people and communities are involved in the decisions that affect their health and environment. Our focus on animals is just part of our care for the delicate balance of health that includes soil, air, water, topography, population density, markets, culture, and tradition.

Our Approach: How do we do it?

A key to the approach is collaboration - across disciplines, professions, and groups - that builds holistic solutions with a lens of inter-connectedness. One Health has its roots in veterinary medicine but has come to involve human health practitioners, social scientists, environmental scientists, and others.

Focused On Health

We focus on animal health care as integrally tied to human and ecosystem health. By treating all three, we create sustainable solutions for the planet.

High Local Impact

Our work happens on the ground in every program country: in community meetings, training local people on animal health care, delivering vaccinations, helping to form co-ops, training women, children and families in food production, nutrition, husbandry and disease control.

Repeatable & Sustainable

Our projects are built to be repeatable and to promote sustainability over the long term so that communities can grow independent and strong and act as models for others.

Built On Respect

We respect people, culture, local knowledge, human rights, laws and customs, animal welfare, and the environment.

Community Guided

We are guided by the communities we work with and we are committed to participatory and inclusive approaches to development. Sustainable solutions are most often created when locally identified and owned.

Committed To Learning

We are committed to sharing our expertise and knowledge and continuously learning from our partners.

Your Support Means Everything

Veterinarians Without Borders North America/Vétérinaires Sans Frontières Amérique du Nord couldn't do the work we do without your support. Whether it's a financial donation or a donation of your time, by improving the health of animals you will be working to improve the health and quality of life for people throughout the world.

VOLUNTEER WITH US DONATE TODAY

Stories From Around The World

Renewed Global Commitment to Reduce Antimicrobial Resistance: A Complex Challenge Requiring a One Health Approach

Posted Nov 18th, 2024

Written by Dr. Andrea Ellis (DVM), a member of the VWB Board of Directors, this article explores the evolution of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) thinking, highlighting the critical role of environmental inclusion and a One Health approach, and showcasing how VWB’s focus on animal husbandry, disease prevention, and antimicrobial stewardship aligns with the Quadripartite partnership’s vision for a coordinated global response.

Poultry and Possibility in Ukraine: Rethinking Aid in Protracted Crises

Posted Nov 14th, 2024

In this op-ed, VWB's Executive Director, Charmaine Brett, discusses how poultry farming is helping to build sustainable recovery for families in Ukraine.

Webinar Replay: How do community-led One Health Teams help to bridge health gaps and build resilience?

Posted Nov 1st, 2024

Watch a replay of our One Health Day 2024 webinar, held on Friday, November 1st, which explored how community-led One Health Teams (OHTs) help to bridge health gaps and build resilience. Panelists are partners in our COHERS program in Rwanda and Senegal.

Our Approach