Sustainable Health Practices for Emerging Tropical Diseases

This edited volume provides a comprehensive exploration of sustainable, integrated, and innovative approaches to the prevention, monitoring, and management of emerging tropical diseases. With a particular emphasis on building resilient and equitable health systems in the Global South, it critically examines how health, environment, and social systems intersect in addressing infectious disease challenges. The book highlights the policy, institutional, and technological frameworks necessary for both national and international stakeholders to advance sustainable health solutions while confronting barriers in diagnostics, treatment, vaccination, and community-based disease management.

A central theme of the volume is the application of One Health and EcoHealth frameworks as transformative tools for integrating human, animal, and environmental health considerations. Through these lenses, the book delves into strategies for strengthening disease surveillance systems, improving public health infrastructure, enhancing environmental sustainability, and promoting livelihood security. Case studies and evidence-driven analyses illustrate how innovative, participatory, and inclusive approaches can reshape public health interventions to ensure long-term resilience and equity.

Bringing together a diverse team of global experts and practitioners, this book serves as a vital reference for public health professionals, environmental scientists, healthcare practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and students. It aims to inspire action-oriented research, informed policy decisions, and community engagement toward achieving sustainable health outcomes across different regions, especially those disproportionately affected by tropical diseases.

Dr. Sylvester Chibueze Izah

Dr. Izah is a distinguished faculty member at Bayelsa Medical University in Yenagoa,Nigeria. Dr. Izah holds dual Ph.D. in Public Health, and Applied Microbiology and Environmental Health, an M.Sc. in Applied Microbiology, and a B.Sc. in Biological Sciences from Niger Delta University, Nigeria. In addition to his teaching role, he holds the position of Assistant Director of Academic Planning, Research, and Innovations at the university. Dr. Izah is a licensed environmental health specialist in Nigeria. His expertise spans various disciplines including the assessment and management of air, soil, and water quality, as well as toxicology, hygiene, sanitation, food science, waste management, biodiversity, infectious diseases, public and environmental health, one health, and sustainability. Dr. Izah’s academic prowess is highlighted by an impressive research and publication portfolio, which includes more than 400 peer-reviewed publications. His work extends to the publication of edited/authored books, book chapters and journal articles with renowned publishers.

Dr. Matthew Chidozie Ogwu

Dr. Ogwu is an interdisciplinary environmental scientist and Assistant Professor of Sustainable Development at Appalachian State University, USA. He holds a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from Seoul National University, South Korea, and degrees in Plant Biology and Biotechnology from the University of Benin, Nigeria. Dr. Ogwu’s expertise spans integrated ecology, environmental health, and sustainability science, focusing on One Health and EcoHealth frameworks. His research includes natural resource management, microbiome applications in health and agriculture, environmental monitoring, and food waste valorization. An award-winning mentor and educator, Dr. Ogwu has published widely, including journal articles, book chapters, and edited volumes with Springer, Wiley, Taylor and Francis and Elsevier. He is committed to participatory and decolonial approaches in environmental and human health governance, working with communities in the Global South and the United States to advance sustainability and foster the next generation of environmental leaders. His works continue to advance convergence research approaches integrating One Health and EcoHealth perspectives to address complex sustainability and health challenges globally.