Amman, Aug. 17 (Petra) — The Third International Conference on One
Health and Veterinary Innovations opened in Amman on Monday under the
patronage of HRH Princess Alia bint Al Hussein, bringing together
researchers and specialists from 10 countries to examine emerging
risks at the intersection of human, animal and environmental health.

The three-day conference, organized by the Faculty of Veterinary
Medicine at Jordan University of Science and Technology (JUST),
focuses on zoonotic and emerging diseases, antimicrobial resistance,
food safety, climate and environmental change, as well as advances in
veterinary diagnostics, treatment and healthcare.

Researchers, academics and experts from Jordan, the United Kingdom,
Portugal, Malaysia, Egypt, Libya, Iraq, Syria, Sudan and Lebanon are
taking part in the event.

JUST President Khalid El-Salem said growing health and environmental
pressures have transformed the One Health concept from a scientific
framework into an increasingly important approach to managing
interconnected risks.

He said zoonotic and emerging diseases, antimicrobial resistance,
food safety and climate and environmental change have direct
implications for health and food security, as well as the ability of
societies to anticipate and respond to emerging threats.

Addressing these challenges requires closer coordination across
sectors and disciplines, El-Salem said, noting that the conference is
intended to help translate scientific understanding into integrated
and preventive policies and practices.

Its agenda is also aligned with Jordan’s national priorities and
Economic Modernization Vision, particularly in the areas of quality
of life, food security, innovation and sustainability, he added.

El-Salem highlighted the importance of strengthening prevention and
early surveillance, combating antimicrobial resistance and protecting
the food chain, while developing systems capable of identifying
health and environmental risks before they develop into wider crises.

El-Salem said scientific research should ultimately translate into
practical solutions and inform public policy, noting that JUST’s
combination of medical, veterinary, pharmaceutical, agricultural,
engineering and scientific disciplines provides a platform for
cross-disciplinary research.

He also highlighted the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine’s role as
Jordan’s only veterinary college, alongside its veterinary teaching
hospital, which serves as a center for veterinary education and
healthcare.

The faculty’s work extends to livestock protection, food safety,
surveillance of zoonotic and emerging diseases and broader public
health, he said.

El-Salem said the university is seeking to use the conference to
develop new research partnerships and joint projects, improve
mechanisms for sharing information and data, strengthen disease
surveillance and produce practical scientific recommendations for
policymakers.

Such cooperation could also strengthen the ability of national and
regional institutions to prepare for health and environmental risks,
while supporting Jordan’s position as a regional platform for
scientific dialogue and One Health cooperation, he added.

Faculty of Veterinary Medicine Dean Maysar Al-Qakish said the
conference seeks to move One Health from a scientific concept toward
coordinated implementation by connecting veterinary medicine, public
health and environmental expertise.

She said closer cooperation among universities, government
institutions, international organizations and the private sector is
central to that approach.

The program includes scientific sessions and practical workshops,
alongside an exhibition featuring pharmaceutical, diagnostic and
technological innovations, allowing participants to exchange
expertise and review recent developments across One Health
disciplines.

Following the opening session, Princess Alia inaugurated the
veterinary medicine exhibition and received a commemorative medal
from the university president in recognition of her patronage of the
conference and continued support for animal health, welfare and
protection.

The conference runs through Wednesday.

//Petra// RZ