Welcome to the Indian Ocean Health Research Congress (CoReSOI) 2025, dedicated this year to “Health and Environment”.

CoReSOI is a unique event bringing together researchers, health professionals, environmentalists and policy-makers to discuss the challenges and innovative solutions at the intersection of human health and the environment in this critical region of the world.

Since ancient times, the relationship between nature and human health has been recognized by visionary thinkers. Hippocrates (460-377 B.C.) already asserted: “Nature heals the sick”. Centuries later, Paracelsus (1493-1541) underlined our connection with the earth when he said: “The earth is also our mother, who penetrates us day after day, with every mouthful we eat”. This simple and obvious connection takes on new meaning in the Anthropocene era, where human activities are disrupting this balance. The notion of sustainable development, which emphasizes the need to preserve the environment while pursuing development, becomes essential. In 1987, Dr Brundtland wrote in her report “Our Common Future”: “The environment is where we all live, and development is what we all do to improve our lot in that habitat. The two are inseparable. The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) represent a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. However, they are threatened by climate change, which is already affecting 3.6 billion people living in highly sensitive areas. Small islands and low-income countries, though low contributors to global emissions, suffer the most serious repercussions.

According to the World Health Organization, environmental factors are responsible for 23% of deaths and 25% of chronic diseases worldwide. Pollution, one of the main environmental risks, causes nine million deaths a year (Lancet Planetary Health). Over the last two decades, there has been a marked increase in the number of epidemics of zoonotic (animal) origin, partly due to increased contact between humans and wildlife. Before the 20th century, approximately one pandemic per century was described; since 2002, six have already occurred (SARS, influenza A H1N1, MERS-CoV, Zika, Ebola and Covid-19).

Islands have played a key role in raising global environmental awareness by exposing their vulnerability to rising sea levels and biodiversity loss. Endowed with unique and fragile ecosystems, the islands of the southwest Indian Ocean (IO) have already suffered the consequences of human activities. Historic losses of biodiversity, such as the emblematic dodo in Mauritius and its cousin the solitaire in La Réunion, illustrate the impact of human activities on biodiversity.

In the southwest region of the IO, the islands are facing the re-emergence of vector-borne diseases such as dengue, influenced by climate variability. Health infrastructures are vulnerable to extreme climatic events. Malnutrition, exacerbated by drought and climate change in Madagascar, and the increase in respiratory diseases due to air pollution, represent additional challenges. Extreme climatic events, such as increasingly severe cyclones, and seasonal changes directly affect mental health, causing eco-anxiety and other psychological disorders. Responses to these issues can only be orchestrated with data generated by research.

This conference aims to highlight the contribution of health research in exploring the links between the environment and human health, and to consider strategies for strengthening the resilience of health systems and infrastructures in the face of environmental and climatic challenges. We’ll be talking about the link between the environment and cancer, mental health, physical activity and diet, and epidemics…. We’ll talk about the importance of the first 1,000 days of life, and hear proposals for intervention at the population level. In short, this promises to be a rich congress, enlivened by renowned speakers!

We invite you to take an active part in this congress to share your research, exchange ideas and collaborate for a healthier, more sustainable future in the Indian Ocean.

You can also find in the subsections of this tab, the organizing, steering and scientific committees,
our partners or all the information on the last two editions.