Launch of WHO’s first Collaborating Centre for One Health Implementation in the Western Pacific

On 26 October 2026, the World Health Organization (WHO) inaugurated the Western Pacific Region’s first WHO Collaborating Centre for One Health Implementation at the School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). The Collaborating Centre will strengthen research, innovation, capacity-building and collaboration for One Health in the Region and beyond.

By enabling countries to measure and strengthen how they put One Health into practice, the Collaborating Centre will support preparedness efforts against emerging zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance and climate-driven health threats.

Hosted by SJTU's School of Global Health, the Collaborating Centre was unveiled at the High-Level Forum on One Health Action by Dr Saia Ma'u Piukala, WHO Regional Director for the Western Pacific. The inaugural ceremony marked a significant milestone in the Region’s collective efforts to operationalize the One Health approach at the human–animal–environment interface, bringing together leaders from Shanghai Municipal Health Commission, the Chinese Preventive Medicine Association and key national and international partners.

"The global architecture for One Health is now in place," said Dr Piukala. "The question is no longer whether we commit to One Health – it is how we implement it, and how we measure progress. This Centre will help countries across our Region answer that question."

Around 100 attendees pose in an auditorium with red curtains and rows of red seats, many giving a thumbs-up.

Photo caption: WHO and partners inaugurate the Western Pacific Region’s first WHO Collaborating Centre for One Health Implementation at the School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU). Photo credit: Shanghai Jiao Tong University

A multisectoral approach to converging challenges

The Western Pacific faces a convergence of challenges: rapid urbanization, intensifying food production, biodiversity loss and a changing climate. Avian influenza continues to circulate in animals and spill over into people. Antimicrobial resistance is making common infections harder to treat. Food safety and food security remain pressing concerns, especially for Pacific island countries.

One Health is an approach that connects disciplines to harness collective action, build synergies and collaboratively tackle complex health challenges. Sixteen of the Region's 28 Member States now have a One Health coordination mechanism, up 20 percentage points in two years, and eight have held National Bridging Workshops to turn cross-sector coordination into joint work on shared priorities.

However, important gaps remain. Of 13 Joint External Evaluations conducted in the Region since 2023, five found that the country did not yet have a unified, multisectoral list of priority zoonotic diseases — a foundational step for pandemic prevention and preparedness.

One Health is therefore an acceleration point of the WHO Regional Vision, Weaving Health for Families, Communities and Societies in the Western Pacific Region (2025–2029), and a priority of the Asia Pacific Health Security Action Framework.

A man in a gray blazer, white shirt, and dark patterned tie speaks at a podium with two microphones. His name placard reads

Photo caption: Li Bin, President, Chinese Preventive Medicine Association (former Vice Minister of the National Health Commission) delivers a keynote speech: From Chinese Experience to Global Practice—One Health Initiative at the WHO CC for One Health inaugural ceremony. Photo credit: Shanghai Jiao Tong University

From commitment to measurable action

Designated for 2026–2030, the Collaborating Centre will support WHO in three areas. It will develop a framework and indicators to monitor and evaluate One Health implementation at national and subnational levels; produce communication materials and support the Quadripartite Communities of Practice on One Health governance and return on investment; and conduct research at the human–animal–environment interface, informing regional risk mapping of priority zoonotic diseases, including climate-sensitive zoonoses in the Pacific, and developing community-centred approaches to risk communication and surveillance.

"It is a privilege for WHO to have China's scientific and institutional strength behind the One Health agenda," said Mr Martin Taylor, WHO Representative in China. "Through this Centre, China's experience can reach neighbouring countries and partners further afield."

A man in a dark suit and striped tie stands at the podium on stage. The large screen behind him reads “Martin Taylor, WHO Representative to China, World Health Organization China Office,”

Photo caption: Mr Martin Taylor, WHO Representative in China, delivers remarks at the WHO CC for One Health inaugural ceremony. Photo credit: Shanghai Jiao Tong University

The Centre complements the WHO Collaborating Centre for One Health in Ireland, which focuses on capacity-building and training. Its work will also contribute to the Quadripartite One Health Joint Plan of Action of FAO, UNEP, WHO and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH).

A partnership years in the making

The designation builds on collaboration between WHO and SJTU that began in 2019, when WHO joined the launch of the School of Global Health. Since then, the partnership has grown through academic exchanges, joint training, advisory roles and field research. A Cooperation Project Agreement for 2025–2027 now supports the joint development of a One Health decision support toolkit and training programme with the WHO Academy.

Six people stand on stage, three on each side of a red draped plaque, holding red ribbons. The screen reads

"A dream becomes reality the day someone agrees to deliver it with you — and the inauguration of this Collaborating Centre for One Health is the fruition of our aspirations and efforts over the years to prioritize One Health implementation in the Region," shared Dr Zhou Xiao-Nong, Vice Dean School of Global Health, Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for One Health Implementation (CHN-170).

Going forward, WHO and Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine will collaborate closely to prioritize areas where the Collaborating Center can support Member States in the Region to strengthen One Health governance, surveillance, risk communication, and multisectoral collaboration.