NGOs Call for Urgent Shift to Disease Prevention at One Health Summit Side Event

Brussels, 9 April 2026 — A coalition of leading international Civil Society Organisations and partners convened a high-level side event on 6 April, during the One Health Summit in Lyon, calling for a decisive global shift toward preventing pandemics before they emerge. The French government hosted the One Health Summit from April 5 to 7 with the High-Level Segment on April 7, coinciding with World Health Day and marking a key political moment to turn commitments into action.

A broad international coalition driving action on One Health

The event is co-organised by PREZODE and partners, including Friends of the 2026 High-level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response co-convened by The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, FOUR PAWS, The Elders and rani, AVSF (Agronomists and Veterinarians Without Borders), the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and The World Bank.

It convened Heads of State and government, international organisations, scientists, civil society, youth and local actors to advance global action on One Health and highlight the urgent need to act before inter-species disease transmission occurs.

This side event reinforced the deep interdependence between human, animal, plant and ecosystem health and wellbeing, and the urgent need for coordinated, science-based approaches to shared global health threats. It also showcased the Quadripartite partnership between FAO, UNEP, WHO and WOAH, alongside other key stakeholders working to strengthen global health governance.

Preventing pandemics at their source

Most emerging infectious diseases originate in animals, with human-driven factors such as deforestation, wildlife trade, and intensive farming significantly increasing the risk of spillover to humans. Participants stressed that preventing these risks at their source through the One Health approach is both critical for global health and economically sound.

Local communities were identified as the first line of defence against emerging health threats. Communities on the frontlines of disease emergence and spillover were recognised as essential actors, not just beneficiaries, in preventing future outbreaks. Speakers highlighted how locally rooted, co-developed prevention strategies can be scaled up to inform national policies and international frameworks, including preparations for the 2026 UN High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.

Closing the prevention gap : from commitments to investment

The event also addressed the persistent global financing gap that continues to undermine prevention efforts. The message was unequivocal: prevention works, but it is chronically underfunded. Participants called for pandemic prevention to be recognised and funded as a global public good, building on progress from the Pandemic Agreement and the revised International Health Regulations.

Key priorities identified included:

• Leveraging the One Health approach to reduce risks at their source by protecting animals and ecosystems
• Limiting disease transmission between animals and humans
• Identifying strategic investments in prevention rather than crisis response
• Strengthening the role of local communities and civil society in translating global commitments into action

Animal welfare and the cost of inaction

FOUR PAWS used the opportunity to highlight the critical role of animal welfare in preventing future pandemics, stressing that integrating animal welfare into global and national health strategies is a cornerstone of effective pandemic prevention. The organisation emphasised that the way animals are treated and the conditions in which they are kept directly influence the likelihood of disease emergence and spillover.

A turning point for global action

The One Health Summit marks a critical opportunity to turn political momentum into concrete, multisectoral action, from strengthening disease prevention and preparedness to tackling antimicrobial resistance, advancing sustainable food systems, and safeguarding environmental health. PREZODE and its partners warn that failing to address inter-species disease transmission leaves the door wide open to the next pandemic.

Background:

The One Health approach is a concept in public health that recognises the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. It is essential for addressing complex health challenges including the emergence and spread of zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance. One Health provides a way forward in preventing the spillover of pathogens if human beings improve the welfare of animals and cease high risk practices.