The 4th Global Health Security Conference (GHS2026) is taking place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, bringing together global health leaders, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners to strengthen collective action for a safer, healthier, and more resilient world.

We were honored to participate in the PREZODE/CIRAD/APCASO/SCDI session “From Awareness to Action: Strengthening One Health Surveillance through Serious Games and Community Engagement,” where we shared the story of our community network in Vietnam and how the engagement of local actors plays an essential role in strengthening local responses to infectious disease risks and broader public health challenges.

This was an important opportunity for us to bring community-based experiences into broader conversations on One Health, global health security, and resilience. It was also a valuable space to learn from organizations and experts working across regions, including the Greater Mekong region and beyond.

We were especially inspired by discussions on how the One Health approach can strengthen preparedness for emerging infectious diseases and other health challenges that cut across communities, sectors, and regions. Innovative tools such as the CIRAD and PREZODE-developed ALERT serious game also showed how learning can become more practical, engaging, and locally relevant, helping communities and frontline professionals better understand their roles in disease surveillance and response.

Photo: ALERT serious game developed by CIRAD

These exchanges once again reaffirmed our belief that stronger health security starts with stronger local systems and meaningful community participation. We hope to continue contributing to efforts that adapt and expand practical, community-centered initiatives in local settings, helping strengthen community resilience and support healthier communities and ecosystems.

We extend our sincere thanks to CIRAD for creating such a meaningful space for discussion, and for the opportunity to share the story of our community network in Vietnam as part of this vital conversation.