Health: One Health Approach

One Health is an approach that recognizes that the health of people is closely connected to the health of animals and our shared environment.
One Health’ vision derives its blueprint from the agreement between the tripartite-plus alliance comprising the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).

Combating Zoonotic Diseases: A significant portion of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, jumping from animals to humans. One Health strengthens disease surveillance and control across human and animal populations.
Improved Pandemic Preparedness: A coordinated approach enhances early detection, rapid response, and mitigation of pandemics like COVID-19.
Antimicrobial Resistance: One Health addresses the overuse of antibiotics in animals, which contributes to antimicrobial resistance, a major public health threat.
Food Safety: Ensures a healthy food chain by promoting healthy animal husbandry practices and preventing zoonotic transmission through food.
Environmental Sustainability: Addresses the impact of environmental degradation on animal and human health.

Policy Integration: Governments need to develop policies that promote collaboration between health, agriculture, and environmental sectors.
Capacity Building: Invest in training programs and infrastructure to enhance surveillance, research, and response capabilities.
Public Awareness: Educate communities about the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health and the importance of adopting sustainable practices.

World Health Organization (WHO): WHO collaborates with partners to promote One Health initiatives and support countries in implementing integrated health strategies.
One Health Global Network: A collaborative network of organizations and institutions working to advance One Health’s research, policy, and practice worldwide.

National One Health Mission
- Endorsed by the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) in July 2022.
- The mission involves 13 Ministries and Departments along with scientific agencies to tackle health crises comprehensively.
- The National Institute for One Health in Nagpur serves as the coordinating hub for national and international efforts.
- Objectives:
  - Develop integrated disease surveillance strategies and coordinated outbreak responses.
  - Foster joint research and development (R&D) for combating routine and pandemic diseases.
  - Ensure seamless information sharing across sectors for effective control measures.

Funding Constraints: Limited funding for interdisciplinary research and capacity-building initiatives can hinder the implementation of One Health approaches.
Political Will: Lack of political commitment and coordination between government agencies may impede efforts to address health issues holistically.