With three main speakers, the “Mediterranean One Health Innovation Center (MED-OHC)” and “Asclepius – One Health” participated on the morning of Tuesday, October 1st, in the Central Meeting of the “One Health Network for Cities in Europe – ONCE,” hosted in the city of Elefsina, Greece.
Specifically, the President of the Mediterranean One Health Innovation Center (MED-OHC) and “Asclepius – One Health,” Eleni Pavlidou, DVM, MBA provided at her presentation a detailed update to the members of the network on the initiatives for promoting One Health in Greece and the Mediterranean, as well as the medium-term scientific goals of both organizations.
Two more highly interesting presentations followed.
The first was by the President of the Scientific Committee of the Mediterranean One Health Innovation Center (MED-OHC), Professor Zacharoula Andreopoulou, Professor in Informatics & Technologies for Green Regional Policies, in Dept of Forestry and Natural Environment in Aristotle University of Thessaloniki.
The second was by Health Psychologist BSc, MSc, MS, and member of the Scientific Council of “Asclepius – One Health” and Head of the Laboratory of Experimental and Applied Psychology at SCG – Scientific College of Greece, Dimitris Vlastos.
It is worth noting that the “One Health 4 Cities” network aims to raise awareness among decision-makers and social groups by incorporating appropriate tools into urban strategies and actions to promote the well-being, health of people, animals, and the environment as a unified whole. The program is funded by the European URBACT program and will run until December 31, 2025.
The meeting in Elefsina took place at the renovated Old Oil Mill venue. It hosted representatives from all participating cities in the network, as well as local agencies and experts. During the event, challenges and solutions offered by the program to promote the strategic One Health approach were discussed.
The meeting was attended by distinguished officials such as:
- Mr. Georgios Georgopoulos, Mayor of Elefsina.
- Mr. Cleanthis Varelas, Deputy Governor of Western Attica.
- Ms. Lila Vezu, Animal Affairs Consultant, Municipality of Elefsina.
- Mr. Georgios Stratidakis, General Director of Sustainable Development and Climate Change, Region of Attica.
- Dr. Anastasios Ioannis Kallias, Orthopedic Surgeon, Deputy Director, General Hospital of Elefsina “Thriasio.”
Additionally, local organizations and representatives from the scientific community participated, contributing to the strengthening of cooperation and the search for solutions.
The One Health network consists of the following nine European cities:
- Benissa (Spain)
- Elefsina (Greece)
- Kuopio (Finland)
- Lahti (Finland)
- Loulé (Portugal)
- Lyon (France)
- Munich (Germany)
- Strasbourg Metropolitan Area (France)
- Suceava (Romania)
The event was an opportunity for Elefsina to highlight its leading role in the field of sustainable development and health, as well as to strengthen its cooperation with other European cities and agencies.
