The Challenges and Triumphs Over the Years at The MOD Public Health Foundation, Uganda (Part II) Interview with Samuel Waliggo, MPH, Founder and Executive Director of the MOD Public Health Foundation Uganda

Part II Interview with Samuel Waliggo, MPH, Founder and Executive Director of the MOD Public Health Foundation Uganda

Interviewer:

Our decisions or indecisions have a health impact. The things we decide about or do not affect us within an ecosystem of things. We thrive, survive and strive within ecosystems variously as you stated earlier. Help our readers connect one health, global and public health.

Samuel Waliggo:

We are connected by many aspects on this planet which in turn is connected to other bodies in the universe. The earth is made up of land mass, air, temperature, water bodies, animals, plants, and other things that may be seen or so minuscule that they are not visible to the eye but exist physically or non-physically. These can be life-supporting or not. For instance, the diseases that affect animals affect us. These diseases may pass to humans zoonotically. Or the effect may be seen if we rely on animals for food or their products to make money. Humans, animals, and plants rely on the air, land, and water. We are called upon to recognise this inter-relationship and it is the basis of the one health principle. When we are driven in preventing diseases, prolonging life, and promoting health, we must know that animals, humans, land, water, air, and plants are co-existing. In order to achieve optimal health outcomes, we must ensure a balance and recognize the interconnection between people, animals, plants, and a shared environment. We must do this within global systems and structures. This is why health has individual, household, village, community, local government, central government, non-governmental, demographic, lifestyle, public, and global facets. If we stress this recognition and preach it, we shall be like the one who preaches water and drinks water. If we don’t, it will be like one who preaches water but drinks wine.

End of Part (II)

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Contact Contact Our Executive Director

Samuel Waliggo, MPH

MOD Public Health Foundation, Uganda

P.O BOX 211, Plot 79, Bukoba Road,

Near Gaz, Masaka City,

Mobile: +256 772675563

Office:  +256 485660637

E-mail: samuel.waliggo@mod.or.ug

             samuel.waliggo@gmail.com