At One Health and Development Initiative (OHDI), we believe that protecting global health begins with early awareness and timely reporting. Many health threats affecting people, animals, and the environment are first noticed within communities — by families noticing concerning symptoms, farmers observing unusual livestock illness, or individuals identifying environmental hazards in their surroundings.
Early signals like these can play an important role in preventing larger problems. When concerns are reported early, individuals can receive guidance more quickly, and where necessary, issues can be escalated to the appropriate authorities or institutions that are best positioned to respond.
To support this, OHDI has introduced a WhatsApp reporting channel through the RORE platform, allowing individuals to easily reach out when they notice unusual health events affecting people, animals, or the environment.
This simple reporting channel serves as a community support and referral mechanism, helping connect individuals with reliable information and guidance. It also provides an opportunity to direct people toward appropriate professional services when needed.
Over time, this channel has already proven its value. For example, individuals have used it to report dog bite incidents, allowing them to receive immediate guidance on appropriate next steps and medical care, while we simultaneously notified relevant government authorities to support timely response and follow-up. In another case, someone who reached out about persistent eye concerns was encouraged to seek medical evaluation and was subsequently diagnosed with glaucoma early enough to begin treatment.
These examples highlight the importance of accessible communication channels that allow people to seek guidance early.
To support these ongoing efforts, OHDI is also working to build a growing global network of medical and veterinary volunteers and professionals who can help provide guidance and facilitate appropriate referrals when necessary. This network will support responsible escalation pathways and help ensure that individuals are connected with relevant expertise when possible.
It is important to note that the WhatsApp reporting channel does not replace emergency or professional medical or veterinary services. Rather, it serves as a community reporting and guidance platform, helping individuals access information, share concerns, and be directed toward appropriate and verified care and support, especially in LMICs where such support may be limited or inadequate.
Through this initiative, OHDI aims to strengthen community participation in One Health, recognizing that safeguarding human, animal, plant and environmental health requires collaboration across sectors and communities.
If you notice something unusual affecting people, animals, or the environment in your community, you can report it through RORE’s WhatsApp channel. It’s free to use. Early reporting helps communities respond faster and contributes to stronger health security for everyone.
Report a concern or seek guidance via RORE WhatsApp on www.askrore.com
