Professor Bert Mohr, internationally recognized veterinary specialist with over 25 years of experience.emphasized the moral imperative to recognize animals as sentient beings with interests and welfare needs. The speaker introduced the One Health concept, highlighting the deep interconnection between human, animal, and environmental health, and expanding this to include One Welfare and One Well-being. Beyond physical health, Professor Mohr emphasized emotional and mental well-being for both humans and animals. A landmark 2023 UN recommendation was noted, urging member states to prevent children from witnessing violence against animals due to its long-term psychological impact and its correlation with future violence. Central to the discussion was animal sentience, the scientific recognition that many animals, including fish, birds, and mammals, can feel pain and distress. This awareness demands moral consideration and ethical responsibility. The speaker also addressed the emotional toll on those who care for animals, particularly in research settings, citing high rates of burnout and psychological distress. Establishing and strengthening Animal Ethics Committees was proposed as a way to ensure ethical oversight, protect animal welfare, support human caregivers, and maintain public trust. The talk concluded with a Gandhi quote, reinforcing that the moral progress of a society can be judged by how it treats its animals, urging deeper reflection on our responsibilities within the One Health framework.

Dr. Emmanuel Obasa, a medical doctor and environmental health advocate, focused on the systemic links between human health, animal wellbeing, and environmental degradation. The speaker emphasized the central role of ethics within the One Health framework, arguing that ethics is not just another discipline but the guiding force shaping decisions on human, animal, and environmental wellbeing. Dr. Obasa described One Health as an interdisciplinary approach involving shared responsibility and interconnected systems, highlighting zoonotic diseases like COVID-19 and AMR as examples. Ethical tensions arise in areas like vaccine equity, antibiotic use, and environmental degradation, with the speaker advocating for Ubuntu, communal responsibility and relational ethics, as a guiding principle. Dr. Obasa stresses the need for inclusive, participatory decision-making and intergenerational justice, urging stewardship rather than exploitation of nature. Bioethical principles (autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, and justice) should be integrated with public health ethics values like equity, sustainability, and transparency. Ultimately, the talk calls for proactive ethical engagement, community involvement, and collective action to address health and ecological challenges, ensuring a healthier, more just planet for future generations.

The webinar concluded with a Q&A session, where participants raised questions on practical implementation, community engagement, and ethical education. Engelbrecht closed by reminding attendees that this was just the beginning of a longer conversation. “As we explore the frontiers of One Health, our ethical lens must remain clear, inclusive, and courageous.” The next webinar in the series is expected to expand on these themes by focusing on indigenous knowledge and environmental justice.