Global Health at the Human-Animal-Ecosystem Interface

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/global-health-human-animal-ecosystem

Introduction

### Course Review: Global Health at the Human-Animal-Ecosystem Interface If you are intrigued by the interconnectedness of health and the environment, the "Global Health at the Human-Animal-Ecosystem Interface" course available on Coursera is an excellent choice. A collaboration between reputable institutions such as the University of Geneva, Institute Pasteur, University of Montreal, and Centre Virchow-Villermé/University Paris Descartes, this free online course spans eight weeks and highlights critical global health challenges. --- #### Course Overview The course immerses participants in the intricate relationships between human health, animal health, and ecosystem health. Across eight modules, learners will explore pressing issues like zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, neglected tropical diseases, and the impact of conflicts and injuries at the human-animal interface. The program's interdisciplinary approach makes it relevant for students, public health professionals, veterinarians, ecologists, and anyone passionate about tackling global health challenges. --- #### Detailed Syllabus Breakdown 1. **Welcome! Key Information on the MOOC**: The introductory module sets the stage, offering learners insights into the course's objectives, evaluation methods, and a sneak peek at additional opportunities for engagement, such as workshops and conferences. 2. **The Need for Intersectoral Approaches (Section 1)**: This foundational section establishes the necessity for cross-sectoral approaches—exploring concepts like One Health, Eco-Health, and Planetary Health—critical in understanding the complexities of global health issues. 3. **Emerging Infectious Diseases (Section 2)**: This section dives into zoonotic diseases such as Ebola and Avian Influenza, examining the tools and challenges for studying and controlling these threats, emphasizing their impacts on both humans and animals. 4. **Antimicrobial Resistance & Zoonotic Foodborne Infectious Diseases (Section 3)**: Focusing on a major priority in global health, this section addresses the global burden of antimicrobial resistance, discussing strategies for mitigation from local to international levels. 5. **Zoonotic Neglected Infectious Diseases (Section 4)**: Participants will learn about neglected tropical diseases, their determinants, and the interventions needed to eliminate them, reinforcing the importance of global health equity. 6. **Conflicts & Injuries (Section 5)**: This module expands the dialogue to include human-animal interactions that lead to health conflicts and injuries, with a focus on significant issues such as snakebites. 7. **Innovation & Opportunities (Section 6)**: Here, the course introduces innovative approaches in global health, such as citizen science and digital epidemiology, showcasing modern tools that enhance our understanding and response to health issues. 8. **Health Benefits at the Human-Animal-Ecosystem Interface (Section 7)**: Moving from risks to rewards, this section highlights the positive health impacts derived from ecosystems and interspecies interactions, addressing the historical perspective of environmental health. 9. **Management of Ecosystems under Global Changes: Implications for Human Health (Section 8)**: Highlighted by contributions from the WHO, this final section underscores the importance of sustainable ecosystems in promoting human health, especially amidst climate change challenges. 10. **Final Quiz**: A comprehensive evaluation to test your understanding and retention of the course material. --- #### Conclusion and Recommendation The "Global Health at the Human-Animal-Ecosystem Interface" course is not only a rich educational experience but also a vital resource for those looking to understand and address global health challenges comprehensively. With its interdisciplinary content, interactive model, and potential for real-world application, this course stands out in the field of public health education. Whether you are a student looking to advance your knowledge, a professional seeking to upskill, or someone passionate about health and the environment, this course is highly recommended. Enroll on Coursera today and embark on a journey that can empower you to contribute meaningfully to global health efforts.

Syllabus

Welcome! Key information on the MOOC

In this Module, we provide you a general description of the MOOC, including some videos and readings that give you an overview of the content, evaluation and activities. This MOOC is based on a highly interdisciplinary and international approach to health, please check the huge diversity of experts involved (see in the Syllabus & list of Experts). Learners following this MOOC have had opportunities to participate in a number of activities (join a workshop in Geneva and Basel for free, become teachers of African refugees, win a travel grant to attend a conference in Geneva,..). We shared with you these activities at the end of this introductory section. New opportunities such as these will be proposed through this MOOC in the future, we will keep you posted. Let's get started and do not hesitate to ask any doubts in the forum of the course! We will be pleased to help you!

In this section of the course, you will learn about some of the major current Global Health challenges at the Human-Animal-Ecosystem Interface and the need for cross-sectoral approaches to health, including One Health, Eco-Health and Planetary Health. Please watch video "Introduction to Section 1" for a more detailed description.

This section focuses on the current global threat posed by zoonotic emerging infections and the tools and challenges for studying and controlling them. Please watch video "Introduction to Section 2" for a more detailed description. Note that many of the topics addressed here (bushmeat, bird migration and avian influenza, etc) are re-discussed in the section 8 of the MOOC.

Antimicrobial resistance is a current top priority in the Global Health agenda. In this section, you will learn about its global burden and the challenges for its control from the national to the global levels based on cross-sectoral approaches to health. Please watch video "Introduction to Section 3" for a more detailed description.

Neglected Tropical Diseases are not neglected in this MOOC and you will have here the opportunity to learn about their common determinants and the interventions and challenges to fight them. Please watch video "Introduction to Section 4" for a more detailed description.

So far we have mainly focused on zoonotic infections, but human-animal interactions can also involve other threats for human health. This section focuses on these conflicts and injuries, paying particular attention to snakebite and the current snakebite crisis. Please watch video "Introduction to Section 5" for a more detailed description.

In this section, we propose you to learn about some innovative approaches, tools, frameworks etc. that offer interesting opportunities for application in Global Health at the Human-Animal-Ecosystem Interface: Citizen Science, Crowdsroucing, Digital Epidemiology and Big Data etc. Please watch video "Introduction to Section 6" for a more detailed description.

So far, in this course we have mainly focused on health risks. In this section, we have also tried to bring the positive impacts on health that emerge from human-animal interactions and more widely from interactions with ecosystems. You will learn about the notion of Environmental Health from a historical perspective and the importance of ecosystem services for human health, including the benefits on health of owning companion animals. Please watch video "Introduction to Section 7" for a more detailed description.

This section was created in close collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) with the goal of highlighting the importance of sustainable management of ecosystems for human health, particularly in the context of climate change. You will be introduced to core issues, challenges and opportunities at the intersection of food systems -including both agricultural biodiversity and sustainable fisheries- and human health against a backdrop of global environmental change. Differential gender impacts are also considered, with a dedicated lecture on the theme and as a cross-reference in other sub-themes. This section is introduced by the Director-General of WHO Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and by Cristina Romanelli from the Secretariat for the Convention on Biological Diversity.