Initiator and Organizer :
    Brittany King

Website Manager:
    Brandt King

Additional Resources:

The AVMA One Health Initiative
www.onehealthinitiative.com

St. George's University
www.sgu.edu

The "One Health, One Medicine" Clinics were initiated in 2007 by St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine student Brittany King on the island of Grenada, West Indies.

  The first clinic sprouted its roots from an animal vaccination clinic in a town called Grenville in the northern part of the island.  At this clinic, a local woman expressed her disappointment with the fact that the veterinary students were providing free healthcare for the animals but not for the people. Thus the idea of combining both aspects of medicine, human and animal, at the same place and at the same time began to take shape.  Brittany worked diligently with St. George’s University School of Medicine to bring the clinicians and the medical students to the next veterinary vaccination clinic.  Free human medical care, animal vaccinations, relevant island zoonotic diseases information, pet food, leashes, collars, people snacks, and healthcare information were provided to both the people and animals of Grenada at the first “One Health, One Medicine” Clinic on November 10^th, 2007 in St. David’s, Grenada.  Four more clinics have since taken place in different parishes on the island.  At each clinic around 200 people and 50-80 animals are treated along with 50+ students gaining the knowledge of practically applying their medical, veterinary, and public health skills learned in school.  The benefits are numerous.

What do the clinics provide to Grenadians and their pets?
Medical students: general health checks, blood pressure and blood sugar screening, vision and hearing tests, breast exams, etc.
Veterinary Students: physical exams, vaccinations, dewormer, flea and tick control, nail trims, wound treatments, etc.
Public Health Students and All: zoonotic disease prevention and control (diseases people can contract from animals and their pets), food safety, public health education

Why the idea of “One Health One Medicine”? 
The concept focuses on the convergence of human, animal, and ecosystem health.  All species are interrelated.  Veterinary or medical knowledge gained in one species benefits the others.  It's not a new concept.  The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) recognizes it while it even dates back to our first vaccination protocols regarding Smallpox.  These clinics aim to promote "One Health, One Medicine" through actions, not just words.  Preventative and proactive medicine versus reactive medicine.


What are the benefits of "One Health, One Medicine"?
-detection and control of zoonotic diseases, biomedical research, drug discovery and development, emergency preparedness and response, food safety and biosecurity, protection of wildlife, animal sentinels of environmental health hazards, safety assessment of chemicals and products, and many many more...

  Addressing these issues collectively is critical to combating zoonotic disease transmission, bioterrorism, environmental issues, and improving healthcare worldwide.  I strongly believe that improving today’s healthcare needs to be a collaborative effort.  It is a goal in which so much more can be accomplished working together as “One Health" and "One Medicine” in a united effort rather than divided.  I think it's important to actively take this information and education to the public.  I hope to some day expand from Grenada and take the "One Health, One Medicine" Clinics to people and animals all over the world.