What is One Health?
FOUR PAWS explains how human, animal, and environmental health are deeply connected, and why these matter for our shared future
Cape Town, 30 October 2025 - In South Africa, where people live closely with animals and nature, whether in rural villages, townships, or urban centres, the health of one affects the health of all. That’s the heart of the One Health approach: recognising that the well-being of humans, animals, and the environment is deeply intertwined.
Understanding One Health
One Health is a global concept that encourages collaboration between doctors, veterinarians, environmental scientists, and communities. It’s about working together to prevent disease, protect ecosystems, and promote healthier lives for everyone, whether they walk on two legs, four legs, or grow from the soil.
Diseases like rabies, brucellosis, and even tuberculosis can spread between animals and humans. These are called zoonotic diseases, and they’re more common than many people realise. In South Africa, where stray animals roam freely and livestock are part of everyday life, the risks are real, but so are the solutions.
Why it matters to Mzansi
- In rural areas, livestock health affects food security and family income.
- In townships, unvaccinated pets can spread preventable diseases.
- In cities, pollution and poor waste management harm both people and animals.
- Across the country, climate change and habitat loss increase the risk of new diseases emerging.
By embracing One Health, communities can improve access to clean water, reduce disease outbreaks, and protect the animals they depend on, whether for companionship, farming, or cultural heritage.
FOUR PAWS is working to promote humane and sustainable solutions like sterilisation campaigns, education programmes, and advocacy against illegal wildlife trade. These efforts don’t just help animals; they build stronger, safer communities.
What you can do
- Vaccinate and sterilise your pets
- Do not support inhumane farming practices
- Reduce your consumption of meat, dairy and eggs
- Report illegal wildlife trade
- Learn about zoonotic diseases and how to prevent them
- Join local initiatives that protect animals and the environment
One Health is not just a scientific idea: it’s a community movement. When we care for animals and the environment, we’re also caring for ourselves.
For more information, please visit our website at www.four-paws.org.za
/ENDS
Deidre Daniels
Public Relations Officer+27 (0)21 702 4277
+27 (0)78 675 8220
9B Bell Crescent, Westlake Business Park,
Green Building, Cape Town, 7945
A Public Relations professional with over eight years’ experience in fostering positive relationships between organisations and media.
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FOUR PAWS is the global animal welfare organisation for animals under direct human influence, which reveals suffering, rescues animals in need and protects them. Founded in 1988 in Vienna by Heli Dungler and friends, the organisation advocates for a world where humans treat animals with respect, empathy and understanding. The sustainable campaigns and projects of FOUR PAWS focus on companion animals including stray dogs and cats, farm animals and wild animals – such as bears, big cats and orangutans – kept in inappropriate conditions as well as in disaster and conflict zones. With offices in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Germany, Kosovo, the Netherlands, Switzerland, South Africa, Thailand, Ukraine, the UK, the USA and Vietnam as well as sanctuaries for rescued animals in eleven countries, FOUR PAWS provides rapid help and long-term solutions. www.four-paws.org.za