Global health: The EISMV in Dakar diagnoses the issues and challenges facing veterinary capacities in Africa

“Veterinary capacities in Africa in the context of Global Health: issues and challenges.” This was the theme of the 29th opening ceremony of the Inter-State School of Veterinary Sciences and Medicine (EISMV) in Dakar, held on Friday, March 27, 2026, in Dakar. This important annual meeting provided an opportunity for participants to reflect on the issues and challenges of global health, particularly in Africa.

"Health can no longer be considered on the scale of a single state."

Thus, in his inaugural lecture focused on this year's theme, Dr. Mca Rock Allister Lapo emphasized that, in a world marked by the intensification of trade, increased population mobility, and rapid transformations of ecosystems, health can no longer be conceived on the scale of a single state. According to him, it is now embedded in global dynamics.

“First, Global Health aims to make health a global public good, recognizing that health threats transcend borders and require collective action. Second, it seeks to reduce health inequalities by improving access to care, medicines, and essential services, particularly for the most vulnerable populations. Global health also considers all the social, economic, political, environmental, and demographic determinants of health that influence living conditions and health inequalities,” noted Dr. Mca Rock Allister Lapo.

Four major independent issues

Considering these objectives that underpin "global health," Dr. Lapo identifies four major independent challenges. The first challenge, health-related, primarily concerns the prevention and control of pandemics, the fight against communicable and non-communicable diseases, as well as antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and drug safety.

The second issue, of an environmental nature, highlights the impact of climate change, pollution and ecosystem degradation on health, particularly through the emergence of zoonoses, calling for an integrated ''one health'' approach.

The third, socio-economic, challenge focuses on reducing inequalities in access to care, strengthening resilient health systems, universal health coverage and food and nutritional security.

The fourth issue, political and governance-related, concerns international cooperation, the coordination of actors, health diplomacy and the need for sustainable funding to ensure an effective global response.

For him, Africa, despite its many assets, is situated within a context of structural vulnerability. "The continent faces persistent food insecurity, exacerbated by poverty, dependence on markets for urban populations, and the effects of climate change on agriculture and livestock. Extreme weather events such as droughts, floods, and seasonal vulnerabilities disrupt production systems, increase malnutrition, and further weaken livelihoods," Dr. Mca Rock Allister Lapo stated from the outset.

The meeting was chaired by Mr. Fary Sèye, Secretary General of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation of Senegal, representing Minister Douada Ngom, Vice-President of the Board of Directors of EISMV of Dakar, designated representative of the Minister Delegate to the Minister of National Education, in charge of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Togo, Chairman of the Board of Directors of EISMV.