(Bandar Seri Begawan, 7th)—Every year on April 7, the world, including Brunei, celebrates World Health Day to strengthen awareness and commitment to community health and well-being.
This year, the World Health Organization (WHO) chose the theme “My Health, My Right—Support Science,” calling on all parties, including national governments, scientists, relevant agencies, and society at large, to choose evidence, trust facts, and support science-based action to safeguard the health of humans, animals, and the environment. This theme strongly aligns with the direction Brunei has taken to protect the health of its people and the public.
In conjunction with World Health Day, Minister of Health Dato Isham issued a statement.
The Brunei Ministry of Health believes that today’s health challenges—such as emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, climate change, and environmental degradation—cannot be tackled by any single sector alone. These threats cross the boundaries between human health, animal health, and ecosystems.
All of these require integrated, science-based, and collaborative responses. This forms the basis of the “One Health” approach, a comprehensive framework that recognizes the inseparability of the health of humans, animals, plants, and ecosystems. “One Health” is not just a concept, but a cross-sectoral, cross-disciplinary, and cross-border collaborative commitment, aimed at building a healthier and more resilient nation.
Brunei has already taken concrete measures to advance the “One Health” agenda at the national level. In April 2025, with the support of the four organizations—the World Health Organization (WHO), World Organisation for Animal Health, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)—the Ministry of Health successfully held a National Bridging Workshop. The workshop brought together over 60 experts and officials from Brunei’s human, animal, and environmental health sectors.
The three-day workshop aimed to foster cooperation among participants, jointly identifying existing strengths and gaps in intersectoral communication, planning, and emergency response. Through scenario simulations of zoonotic disease outbreaks and environmental threats, participants gained a clearer understanding of how sectors interact and where collaboration can be improved. The workshop ultimately produced a clear and feasible roadmap, defining the responsibilities of each sector to guide the integrated implementation of the “One Health” initiative in Negara Brunei Darussalam.
The theme for World Health Day 2026 reminds us that progress in public health is built on scientific evidence and multi-sectoral cooperation. Vaccines, disease surveillance systems, early detection tools, and public health policies—all are products of science and collaboration. By embracing science, we choose to protect and save lives. Therefore, the Ministry of Health urges all parties to always trust science-based information and reject the spread of misinformation, especially in today’s era of rapid digital information sharing.
Health is not only the responsibility of the government and health workers, but a shared responsibility for all of us. Each of us plays an important role in maintaining our own health. The Ministry of Health calls on every citizen and resident of Brunei to trust scientific evidence and act accordingly to protect their own health and that of their loved ones.
At the same time, we encourage the public to support vaccination programs, public health measures, and the responsible use of medications—especially antimicrobials or antibiotics—to ensure their effectiveness for the benefit of future generations.
The theme “My Health, My Right—Support Science” embodies the essence of our ongoing efforts to ensure that every citizen and resident of Brunei can enjoy a healthy, safe, and prosperous life.
With the collaboration of all parties—including the government, private sector, communities, and health professionals—and the support of international partners such as the World Health Organization, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, and the United Nations Environment Programme, God willing, we will be able to build a healthier, more resilient, and better society for generations to come.
This year, the World Health Organization (WHO) chose the theme “My Health, My Right—Support Science,” calling on all parties, including national governments, scientists, relevant agencies, and society at large, to choose evidence, trust facts, and support science-based action to safeguard the health of humans, animals, and the environment. This theme strongly aligns with the direction Brunei has taken to protect the health of its people and the public.
The Brunei Ministry of Health believes that today’s health challenges—such as emerging infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, climate change, and environmental degradation—cannot be tackled by any single sector alone. These threats cross the boundaries between human health, animal health, and ecosystems.
All of these require integrated, science-based, and collaborative responses. This forms the basis of the “One Health” approach, a comprehensive framework that recognizes the inseparability of the health of humans, animals, plants, and ecosystems. “One Health” is not just a concept, but a cross-sectoral, cross-disciplinary, and cross-border collaborative commitment, aimed at building a healthier and more resilient nation.
Brunei has already taken concrete measures to advance the “One Health” agenda at the national level. In April 2025, with the support of the four organizations—the World Health Organization (WHO), World Organisation for Animal Health, United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)—the Ministry of Health successfully held a National Bridging Workshop. The workshop brought together over 60 experts and officials from Brunei’s human, animal, and environmental health sectors.
The three-day workshop aimed to foster cooperation among participants, jointly identifying existing strengths and gaps in intersectoral communication, planning, and emergency response. Through scenario simulations of zoonotic disease outbreaks and environmental threats, participants gained a clearer understanding of how sectors interact and where collaboration can be improved. The workshop ultimately produced a clear and feasible roadmap, defining the responsibilities of each sector to guide the integrated implementation of the “One Health” initiative in Negara Brunei Darussalam.
The theme for World Health Day 2026 reminds us that progress in public health is built on scientific evidence and multi-sectoral cooperation. Vaccines, disease surveillance systems, early detection tools, and public health policies—all are products of science and collaboration. By embracing science, we choose to protect and save lives. Therefore, the Ministry of Health urges all parties to always trust science-based information and reject the spread of misinformation, especially in today’s era of rapid digital information sharing.
Health is not only the responsibility of the government and health workers, but a shared responsibility for all of us. Each of us plays an important role in maintaining our own health. The Ministry of Health calls on every citizen and resident of Brunei to trust scientific evidence and act accordingly to protect their own health and that of their loved ones.
At the same time, we encourage the public to support vaccination programs, public health measures, and the responsible use of medications—especially antimicrobials or antibiotics—to ensure their effectiveness for the benefit of future generations.
The theme “My Health, My Right—Support Science” embodies the essence of our ongoing efforts to ensure that every citizen and resident of Brunei can enjoy a healthy, safe, and prosperous life.
With the collaboration of all parties—including the government, private sector, communities, and health professionals—and the support of international partners such as the World Health Organization, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, and the United Nations Environment Programme, God willing, we will be able to build a healthier, more resilient, and better society for generations to come.