The Greater Mekong Subregion One Health (GMS–One Health) Workshop (Round 2), themed “Strengthening the One Health Workforce to Address Public Health Challenges: A Capacity-Building Focus”, was successfully held in Khon Kaen, Thailand, as part of the Neglected Tropical Diseases Asia 2025 Conference (NTDASIA 2025).
The workshop brought together health professionals and experts from Vietnam, Thailand, Myanmar, China, and Lao PDR, fostering a multisectoral and multinational platform to advance the One Health approach in the Greater Mekong Subregion.
The Vietnamese delegation comprised eight public health professionals, including four representatives from the Institute of Malariology, Parasitology and Entomology, Quy Nhon, namely Nguyen Duc Hong, MSc, MD; Huynh Thi An Khang, MSc; Ho Thi Thanh Thao, MSc, MD; and Nguyen Thi Dung, MSc.
The workshop was chaired and facilitated by leading experts from international organizations and prestigious universities, including Prof. Dr. Banchob Sripa (Khon Kaen University, WHO expert), Prof. Dr. Parntep Ratanakorn (Mahidol University), Dr. Wantanee Kalpravidh (FAO), Dr. Soawapak Hinjoy (Ministry of Public Health, Thailand), along with senior academics from Khon Kaen University, Chiang Mai University, and Chulalongkorn University. Their contributions provided strong scientific and practical guidance throughout the program.
Objectives and Key Focus Areas
The workshop aimed to:
- Enhance understanding of the One Health framework and core competencies at national and community levels;
- Share practical experience in controlling small liver fluke infection through the One Health approach at Lawa Lake, Thailand;
- Strengthen regional and cross-sectoral collaboration within the Greater Mekong Subregion.
Key thematic areas included One Health capacity building, regional and international collaboration, and scaling up the Lawa EcoHealth/One Health model, which integrates education, community health, environmental management, and community engagement to control liver fluke infection and cholangiocarcinoma.
Program Highlights
The three-day program combined expert-led sessions with practical field learning. Participants were introduced to the Lancang–Mekong Cooperation framework, the core competencies of One Health, and the Lawa Lake model, followed by a field visit to Lawa Lake. The field activities provided firsthand observation of integrated One Health practices, including community health education, livestock management, traditional fish processing, and environmental improvement.
The final day focused on lessons learned, model analysis, country-level applicability, and case studies addressing antimicrobial resistance, food safety, rabies, and wildlife management.
Key Outcomes
The workshop significantly strengthened participants’ capacity to apply the One Health approach in community-based disease control, facilitated direct learning from the successful Lawa model, and expanded professional networks across the Greater Mekong Subregion. Participants completed case study reports demonstrating practical One Health applications during the field visit.
Participation in NTDASIA 2025
Following the GMS–One Health Workshop, the Vietnamese delegation also participated in the Neglected Tropical Diseases Asia Conference 2025 (NTDASIA 2025), held from 27-28 November in Khon Kaen, Thailand. Chaired by Prof. Dr. Banchob Sripa, the conference convened public health experts, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers from across Asia to share scientific advances, promote research collaboration, and highlight effective intervention models aligned with regional priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals.