The National One Health Mission is a groundbreaking initiative endorsed by the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC). This mission seeks to unify strategies across human, animal, and environmental health, enhancing our preparedness for health emergencies and pandemics.
The mission is a collaborative effort involving 13 Ministries and Departments. Key players include the Department of Science and Technology, Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and the Ministries of Health, Animal Husbandry, and Environment, among others.
The National One Health Mission aims to establish an integrated disease surveillance system, coordinate outbreak responses, and promote research and development (R&D). It emphasizes seamless information sharing to manage diseases affecting humans, animals, and the environment.
Nagpur hosts the National Institute for One Health, serving as the central hub for coordinating national activities and international collaborations under the One Health framework.
The mission strengthens pandemic preparedness by fostering a coordinated approach across sectors. It focuses on robust R&D for vaccines, therapeutics, and diagnostics, alongside establishing a national network of high-risk pathogen laboratories.
This network of laboratories is crucial for handling high-risk pathogens, improving disease outbreak responses, and optimizing resource use across human, animal, and environmental sectors.
To advance its objectives, the mission leverages technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, disease modeling, and genomic surveillance. These technologies enable broader disease detection and surveillance, including wastewater analysis.
Globally, the One Health approach fosters collaboration to enhance surveillance capacities and analytic capabilities. It aims to establish an international network of One Health institutes, a focus during India’s G-20 presidency.
The One Health approach extends beyond disease prevention, tackling issues such as antimicrobial resistance, food safety, plant diseases, and the health impacts of climate change. Engagement from a wide range of stakeholders is essential.
By integrating efforts across human, animal, and environmental health, the mission embodies a holistic approach to health governance and pandemic preparedness. It aligns with the vision of 'One Earth, One Health' and 'Health for All'.
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