At a pivotal moment for regional cooperation in public health, Tunisia hosted a high-level conference on June 14, 2025, dedicated to the “One Health” approach. The event was organized by the Government of the Republic of Tunisia in collaboration with the World Bank and the Quadripartite organizations (WHO, FAO, WOAH, UNEP). The conference brought together ministers and representatives from the health, agriculture, and environment sectors across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with a notable official presence led by Tunisia’s Minister of Health Dr. Mostafa Al-Farjani, Minister of Agriculture Mr. Abdel Moneim Belalia, and Minister of Environment Ms. Leila Chaibi, alongside several other Arab ministers.

The conference culminated in the launch of the “Carthage Declaration on One Health”, marking a strong political commitment to transforming the One Health concept from technical recommendations into a comprehensive and actionable implementation agenda.

The declaration comes in light of national and regional data showing that over 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic in origin, causing more than 2.7 million deaths annually. These diseases also result in billions of dollars in economic losses worldwide. Major pandemics like SARS and COVID-19 have further revealed the deep interconnectedness between human, animal, and environmental health and the urgent need for integrated systems to detect and prevent such crises.

The Carthage Declaration emphasized the need for a holistic and integrated approach that proactively addresses these challenges. This includes incorporating the One Health concept into national, regional, and global policies and strategies; investing in joint surveillance and early warning systems; and updating legislation to ensure it is flexible and harmonized across the three sectors. The declaration also announced the launch of an initiative to establish a regional One Health center headquartered in Tunisia, envisioned as a hub for coordination and knowledge exchange among countries of the region.

This declaration marks a milestone in regional political commitment and a clear call for a paradigm shift in addressing epidemics, antimicrobial resistance, climate change, and biodiversity loss. The One Health approach is no longer a theoretical luxury—it is a strategic necessity to build resilient health systems capable of responding to and recovering from complex, interrelated challenges.

Moreover, the declaration paves the way for enhanced dialogue across the region, the development of joint cross-sectoral projects, and the adoption of best practices rooted in evidence and field experience. In doing so, the “Carthage Declaration” establishes a promising regional framework that reflects a growing political and institutional awareness of the critical importance of collaborative, cross-border, and cross-sectoral efforts to protect human health, animal welfare, and environmental sustainability—all at once.