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).
Significance of the concept
- 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.
Implementation Strategies
- 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.
Global Initiatives in this Field
- 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.
Indian Initiatives in this Field
- 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.
Challenges
- 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.