The morning began not with stiff formalities, but with a smile in the voice of Peter Theuri. “Some of us are at the end of the day, others at the very start,” he said, “but it’s the best way to end July and start August with fresh knowledge.” In just a few sentences, Peter had transported everyone into a shared space, no matter the time zone. He gave Ethiopia a quick introduction as a country with more than eighty languages, a patchwork of cultures, and a proud tradition of producing world-class athletes. But, he added with a grin, “Today, the champions are not runners. They’re the people working to push One Health forward.”

In Ethiopia, COHESA’s mission has been clear: make One Health more than a buzzword. Embed it in institutions. Make it part of how the country works. “We are in the final lap of this project,” Bibiana said, “but because we do not condone mediocrity, we’re making sure our lessons reach far and wide.”

Prof. Mirgissa Kaba, speaking not in abstractions but in vivid, grounded terms. “Some consider One Health an art. Others consider it a science. I see it as an approach,” he began. “An approach that brings multiple sectors, multiple disciplines, together to solve practical problems, whether at the community, national, or global level.”

He spoke of the “4 Cs” needed to make this work: coordination, communication, collaboration, and capacity. Without them, he said, One Health remains an idea. With them, it becomes action. In Ethiopia, this meant ministries you might not expect such as finance, education, local government joining forces with health, agriculture, and environment. “Some of these ministries, even though they are outside the traditional One Health platform, are very influential,” Mirgissa noted. “We cannot ignore them.”

But perhaps the most striking part of Ethiopia’s story was its use of the media. Prof. Mirgissa described how the team had brought journalists and scientists into the same room for “science cafés,” not to lecture, but to talk. “If you want the public to understand your work, don’t speak in complicated language. Speak clearly,” he said. The second café became a spirited debate titled “Is it my problem or your problem?” a question that forced everyone to confront shared responsibility.

From these conversations, an idea emerged: a national media platform for One Health. “We must move One Health beyond scientists and journalists,” Mirgissa said. “It has to be a community conversation.” And in that one line, he captured the essence of institutionalizing One Health, making it something people see themselves in, not just hear about from experts.

By the time the meeting drew to a close, the room, virtual though it was, felt different. What began as a policy discussion had turned into something warmer, more human. Ethiopia’s experience had become a living example of how to turn frameworks into action: invite unexpected partners, speak in plain words, keep the dialogue alive, and remember that protecting the health of people, animals, and the environment is one story — and we are all characters in it.