Ohio State’s Global One Health initiative (GOHi) is an interdisciplinary project that coordinates approaches to improve health, build capacity and provide learning opportunities for students, faculty and staff across the globe.
The Global One Health initiative began in 2009 and has successfully expanded to help those in need and establish mutually-beneficial partnerships nationally, in eastern Africa, Central and South America, Thailand and China. Already well established in eastern Africa, Ohio State opened a regional office in Addis Ababa in November 2016 to manage activities throughout the region. A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on November 11 to celebrate GOHi’s registration as a non-governmental organization by the Ethiopian Charities and Societies Agency.
The office will serve as a central foundational location to coordinate efforts between Ohio State and the eastern Africa region, with a focus primarily on One Health activities.
“The GOHi regional office is key in terms of the trajectory of Ohio State’s global footprint and its internationalization mission,” said Wondwossen Gebreyes, DVM, PhD, GOHi executive director. “Africa is rising with a huge economic expansion. Furthermore, the region is home to one of the largest concentration of human and animal population. Thus, this office will be vital in the internationalization mission of our university and sustaining global partnership.”
Having a presence in Addis Ababa is also important because it will aid in completing on-the-ground work, networking with relevant stakeholders, receiving first-hand information on opportunities and soliciting funding. This office is also instrumental in facilitating logistical arrangements for students, staff and faculty during their visits, ensuring their activities are well coordinated and organized.
The eastern Africa regional office is located in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in the Kazanchis area, where it is near key international organizations including the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and international embassies. The area also has renowned hotels, easy accessibility to transportation and a high level of security.
“The opening of this office confirms GOHi’s commitment to sustainable improvements in the health of humans, animals and the environment through global policy, research, system change and a trained public health workforce,” said Getnet Yimer, MD, PhD, regional director of the eastern Africa GOHi office.
“The work done by the GOHi team and its partners has such a profound and global impact. We are proud to have such a large interdisciplinary initiative aimed at solving some of the world most threatening issues related to health,” said Gifty Ako-Adounvo, PhD, assistant vice provost for global strategies and international affairs.
The team looks forward to hosting invited ministers, chancellors, leaders and staff from Ethiopia and from Ohio state to celebrate the breadth and impact of GOHi’s work. The day’s festivities will include a workshop, the formal ribbon-cutting ceremony and a signing international agreements with eight partner institutions.