The advent of a holistic approach to ‘one health’

Context:

The recent decision by the cabinet on the 'National One Health Mission' marks a significant step in addressing the interdependence between humans, animals, and the environment, especially in light of the emergence of pandemics like COVID-19.

Goals of the National One Health Mission:

• Integrated disease surveillance: The mission aims to develop strategies for integrated disease surveillance, joint outbreak response, coordinated research and development (R&D), and seamless information sharing to control routine and pandemic diseases affecting humans, animals, and the environment.
• Addressing diseases affecting not only humans but also livestock and wildlife (foot and mouth disease, lumpy skin disease), is important, which can impact productivity, trade, and conservation efforts.
• Pandemic preparedness is emphasized, highlighting the need for strong R&D to develop tools like vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, with participation from all sectors.

Creation of a Network of Laboratories:

• National network: Under the mission, a national network of high-risk pathogen laboratories (Biosafety level 3 and 4) has been established to facilitate better disease outbreak response across human, animal, and environmental sectors.
• Resource optimization and collaboration: This initiative enables resource optimization and collaboration between different departments, enhancing the response to diseases like Nipah that involve multiple species.
• 'One Health' is recognized as a global topic, endorsed by organizations like the G-20 during India's presidency, emphasizing collaboration in areas like surveillance capacity building and setting up international networks of 'One Health' institutes.