JOINT RISK ASSESSMENT OPERATIONAL TOOL WORKSHOP IN KAZAKHSTAN

In November 2024, regional specialists from public health, animal health, environmental health and emergency sectors gathered in Astana, Kazakhstan, to get acquainted with the Joint Risk Assessment (JRA) Operational Tool, prepared by One Health Tripartite experts from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO) and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

Focusing on the primary objective of the workshop, participants actively engaged in working group discussions after dividing into a rabies and anthrax team, the two diseases selected for this exercise.

Prior to the main workshop, colleagues from the engaged ministries (Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Emergencies, Ministry of Ecology and Natural resources) met to establish a JRA Steering Committee and familiarized themselves with the roles of facilitators for group work.

Over the next three days, technical teams, together with members of the newly formed Steering Committee, brainstormed risk questions related to the selected diseases, developing potential risk pathways, risk management strategies, and communication options.

In addition, participants had the opportunity to broaden their professional networks and expressed enthusiasm for continuing collaboration on other One Health-related topics.