On this One Health Day, we are delighted to let you know that our Founder and CEO, Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka is the winner of the Uganda Veterinary Association (UVA) 2020 World Veterinary Day Award.

This came after the Uganda Veterinary Association (UVA) executive meeting of over 1000 nominated Dr. Gladys for this award in recognition and appreciation of her distinguished professional service as a leading veterinarian and conservationist working to save the endangered mountain gorillas in Uganda through her work at Conservation Through Public Health (CTPH).

In a letter received from the Uganda Veterinary Association (UVA) President Dr Sylvia Angubua Baluka in April 2020, “UVA noted that Dr Gladys’ work has promoted biodiversity conservation by enabling people, gorillas and livestock to coexist in the same protected environment by improving their livelihoods especially around the Bwindi Impenetrable Protected Area”.

The World Veterinary Day was held on 25th April 2020 but the Award was handed to Dr Gladys by the President of Uganda Veterinary Association Dr. Sylvia Baluka at UVA offices on 28th October 2020. This was due to the restrictions which were earlier brought about by the coronavirus pandemic where the association could not meet to present the award physically.

In her award acceptance remarks, Dr Gladys noted that “It is a great honor to be recognized in this way by the Uganda Veterinary Association for our role in advancing the veterinary profession in Uganda through Our One Health approach to conservation”.  “Our work at CTPH enabled us to win the World Veterinary Day award because this year’s theme is “Environmental protection for improving animal and human health.” Dr Gladys added.

One Health Day is a timely initiative that gives scientists and advocates a powerful voice for moving beyond current provincial approaches to emerging zoonotic infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, climate change, environmental pollution, food safety, comparative/ translational medicine and many other problems, to a holistic default way of doing business. Launched in April 2016 by three leading international One Health groups, the One Health Commission, the One Health Initiative Autonomous pro bono Team, and the One Health Platform Foundation, global One Health Day has grown into an annual platform for One Health advocates around the world to educate in their regions about One Health and One Health challenges.

One Health is an approach that addresses human, animal and ecosystem health together.

As a conservation stakeholder implementing a One Health approach, CTPH joined the Uganda Ministry of Health COVID-19 Taskforce force that is guiding the country’s response to the pandemic.

At Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, CTPH is strengthening gorilla health monitoring and training park staff, Gorilla Guardians and Village Health and Conservation Teams to prevent COVID-19 among people and from people to gorillas

Community group talks using a Population Health and Environment (PHE) flipchart and supporting Ride4AWoman to make face masks

Training of Village Health and Conservation Teams (VHCTs)