-At Global Summit in Lyon
Monrovia, Liberia – African health experts and stakeholders have called for urgent, coordinated action to address the continent’s growing health and environmental challenges following the successful hosting of the One Health Summit in Lyon, France, on April 7, 2026. 
The summit, which brought together over 200 participants from across the human, animal, and environmental health sectors, provided a platform for governments, academia, civil society, media practitioners, and youth to deliberate on the implementation of the One Health approach in Africa. 
The gathering follows a series of engagements led by Galien Africa, including previous forums in 2023 and 2025, and the 2024 “One Sustainable Health by All” Forum held in Dakar. These initiatives aim to promote an integrated health model that recognizes the interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health systems. 
Participants at the Lyon summit acknowledged that Africa is increasingly vulnerable to overlapping crises, including climate change, biodiversity loss, and food insecurity, which continue to pose serious threats to public health and livelihoods. 
They emphasized that global health security can only be achieved through coordinated, multisectoral approaches, noting that Africa must play a central role in shaping a more resilient and equitable global health architecture. 
The summit concluded with the adoption of a declaration outlining key priorities and recommendations for governments, regional institutions, and international partners. Among these is the call to institutionalize the One Health approach through strengthened legal and governance frameworks, as well as the development of integrated early warning systems linking health, climate, and environmental data. 
Stakeholders also urged increased investment in geospatial technologies, support for African-led innovations, and the expansion of local production capacities in pharmaceuticals, vaccines, and medical technologies to reduce the continent’s dependence on external supplies. 
The declaration further highlights the need to strengthen human capital through interdisciplinary training, improve coordination among stakeholders, and ensure inclusive participation of communities, particularly women and youth, in policy development and implementation. 
Participants also recognized the critical role of civil society and the media in raising awareness and promoting accountability in the implementation of health policies. 
In a strong call to action, the summit urged that these commitments be translated into concrete and measurable initiatives capable of advancing health sovereignty, climate resilience, sustainable development, and equity across Africa and the Global South. 
The Lyon summit is expected to further strengthen Africa’s voice in global health governance, with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to sustained dialogue and collaboration in advancing the One Health agenda on the continent.
