National One Health Mission, let's explore further!

The Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) chaired the workshop, uniting a varied group of stakeholders.

Main Points:

The workshop highlighted syndromic surveillance and simulated exercises such as Vishanu Yuddh Abhyaas for readiness.

Gujarat and Kerala, selected for the mission's governance committee, showcased their advancements in developing One Health infrastructure.

The initiation of a Youth Engagement Program to tap into the enthusiasm and creativity of the nation’s youth via hackathons and online campaigns.

One Health Dashboard: A centralized dashboard was introduced to track and visualize state and federal initiatives.

What does the One Health Approach entail?

One Health is a cohesive approach that seeks to sustainably harmonize and enhance the health of humans, animals, and ecosystems.

It acknowledges that the well-being of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the broader environment (including ecosystems) are interconnected and reliant on each other.

NATIONAL ONE HEALTH INITIATIVE

The National One Health Mission (NOHM) showcases the Government of India’s dedication to utilizing advanced science in practical applications to predict and reduce public health threats.

The essential foundations of the NOHM are:

Technology facilitated coordinated monitoring across various sectors.

National network of Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) labs (for assessing high-risk or unidentified pathogens).

Cooperative and cohesive R&D for medical countermeasures such as vaccines, diagnostics, and therapies for the health of humans, animals, wildlife, and livestock.

Integration of data across various sectors.

Capacity building and training in all areas connected to One Health.

Obstacles in Implementing One Health

Intersectoral Coordination: Disjointed institutional boundaries among organizations focused on human, animal, and environmental health.

Shortage of Skilled Workers: Insufficient number of epidemiologists, experts in zoonotic diseases, and data analysts at the local level.

Infrastructural Inequalities: Different states have diverse surveillance capacities and levels of digital health integration.

Data Privacy & Sharing: Maintaining a secure and efficient real-time exchange of data across sectors continues to be an issue.

Path Forward

Decentralized Planning: Governments ought to adapt the One Health framework according to local hazards (e.g., areas with zoonotic risks).

Institutional Frameworks: Ongoing state-level One Health Cells and alignment with current organizations such as State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs).

Public Awareness: Utilize campaigns and involve youth to enhance understanding of One Health.

The states/UTs ought to think about establishing their own One Health dashboards and websites and connect them with the central dashboard/website.