#OurNatureOurHealth Campaign Launches with Webinar on Zoonotic Diseases

NAIROBI, KENYA /// News Advisory /// As the world continues to grapple with the new reality that COVID-19 has brought thus far, the categorization of the virus as a zoonotic disease must not be ignored. The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is the secretariat to an alliance of over 80 African civil society organizations working in conservation that identify as the African CSOs Biodiversity Alliance (ACBA). This alliance is aimed at engaging with the development of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework in a manner that reflects the values, rights, priorities, and needs of African people.

In a bid to raise awareness on zoonotic diseases, ACBA has organized a campaign comprising of webinar series and infographics. The first webinar, ‘Introduction to Zoonotic Diseases’ on August 5, 2020 at 3 p.m. (EAT) will demystify the ‘new’ terminology by highlighting the various transmission methods and the actions needed to create resilience and promote the sustainable use of nature.

The session will be a moderated virtual event with a Q&A segment, featuring three of the leading organizations who have been at the forefront of providing emergency responses across the continent: Conservation through Public Health (CTPH), AWF, and the Namibian Association of Community Based Resources Associations (NASCO).

The webinar speakers include Kaddu Sebunya, CEO, AWF; Maxi Louis, Director, NASCO, and Dr. Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka, CEO, CTPH.

As ACBA kicks off this six-week campaign, the organizations acknowledge that engaging the public on the linkage between nature and health systems is vital now more than ever. To effectively communicate this scientific phenomenon, multi-lingual infographics will complement the efforts to ensure a better grasp of how zoonotic diseases are transmitted and how everyone can play a role to ensure that we avert another pandemic. 

TO PARTICIPATE: Click here to register for the first webinar.

About the African CSOs Biodiversity Alliance (ACBA)
Founded in February 2020, ACBA is a coalition of like-minded African civil society organizations that have come together to engage with the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework to achieve the following vision: “Africa's biodiversity thrives and underpins equitable, socially economically resilient livelihoods based on the rights of people to sustainably use their natural resources”

Media Contact
For interviews, contact Simangele Msweli, simangelemmsweli@gmail.com and Olivia Tawarar, oliviahchepkemoi@gmail.com