Phnom Penh: The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Regional Center for Technical Education Development (SEAMEO TED), Southeast Asia One Health University Network (SEAOHUN) and USAID co-organized a face-to-face awareness-raising workshop on “One Health for Technical Education” for 27 participants as technical education teachers of Animal Husbandry, Food processing, and Agronomy from 14 general and technical high schools throughout Cambodia from the 19th to 20th of December, 2023 at Sunway Hotel in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The objective of the workshop is to raise the awareness and importance of One Health approach among vocational and technical teachers in Cambodia and to encourage vocational and technical teachers to disseminate One Health concept to their colleagues and students. The workshop was presided over by H.E Dr. Chuon Chivin, secretary of state of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, Kingdom of Cambodia.
(Group Photo During Opening Ceremony)
During an opening ceremony, H.E Dr. Chuon Chivin, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport appreciated the opportunity to welcome all participants who attended the workshop. He supported the promotion of “One Health” in schools as well as the general public. He shared his personal experience in the field of agriculture by using chemicals to boost the productivity of agricultural products which are detrimental to human health, animals and the environment. He also raised a question to reflect all participants about how to get high yields and minimal impact on people, animals and the environment. He encouraged the participants to discuss “the pros and cons of traditional and intensive farming approach” Finally, he thanked SEAOHUN and USAID for co-organizing such important workshop. Moreover, he strongly believed that the workshop would achieve its objective.
(Opening Remarks by H.E Dr. Chuon Chivin, and Delegates’ Group Photo)
Mr. Seang Meng, a representative from SEAOHUN gave an overview of the Southeast Asia One Health University Network. Then Dr. Chea Bunna, a lecturer from the Royal University of Agriculture enabled the participants to do self-introduction and presented the concept/knowledge related to one health approach and food safety concepts/principles. To recap of day 1 , the interaction and communication as part of Q & A session were encouraged in terms of answering participants’ questions, concerns or comments.
(Explanation on the Awareness of One Health Approach)
On the last day, Dr. Chea Bunna explained the activities of discussion group that was divided into three groups namely agronomy, animal science, and food processing. He guided to conduct a group discussion on a case study/scenario on one health approach. Then, the representatives of each group came up to present the topics discussed. Finally, Mr. Sieng Meng explained, guided and divided the participants into four discussion groups to discuss future outreach plans on the concept and promotion of one health awareness in schools; then the representatives of each group presented the outreach action plans discussed.
(The Activities of the Discussion Group During the Workshop)
At the conclusion of the workshop, Dr. Songheang Ai, Centre Director of SEAMEO TED, highly appreciated the efforts of the trainers, speakers and all participants which led this workshop run and end with productive results. He encouraged all participants to have professional development programs periodically. The next step after today’s workshop, the participants are to share knowledge and disseminate health information to their colleagues, students and stakeholders in schools in order to raise the awareness of the one health approach. Finally, Dr. Ai wished all the trainers, speakers and trainees good health and success in all tasks. At the end, the participants were presented with certificates of completion.
(Dr. Sonheang Ai, Director of SEAMEO TED, Delivered Closing Remarks)
(The Photos of Participants with Certificates of Completion)