India, WOAH emphasise 'One Health' approach for pandemic preparedness

The Indian Ministry, in conjunction with the World Organisation for Animal Health, reached a unanimous consensus on the importance of a 'One Health' approach, cross-sectoral collaboration, and pandemic preparedness, on September 12.

The Department of Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, Government of India, partnered with the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) to organise a workshop titled "Risk-based management of spill over events in wildlife in India" from September 11-12.

The workshop brought together experts from various sectors, representing six Indian states and key organisations, including ICAR-National Institute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease Informatics (NIVEDI), the Centre for Wildlife IVRI, WHO, FAO, USAID Rise, and the One Health Support Unit (OHSU). Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Dr. Abhijit Mitra, and WOAH Regional Representative for Asia Pacific, Hirofumui Kugita, inaugurated the event.

With a focus on enhancing wildlife-origin disease risk analysis, the workshop pursued four main objectives. These included advancing stakeholder knowledge, conducting a comprehensive gap analysis of India's risk assessment and management, simulating disease spillover scenarios, and promoting communication and awareness among relevant stakeholders.

According to the official statement, the discussions culminated in a unanimous agreement on the importance of a One Health approach, cross-sectoral collaboration, and pandemic preparedness. A highlight of the workshop was the inclusion of sessions dedicated to risk analysis simulations, one of which focused on a hypothetical disease ("disease X") and another tailored specifically to India.

The COVID-19 pandemic has starkly emphasised the necessity for countries to bolster their preparedness for future pandemics, the statement further added. WOAH, in collaboration with partners in the Quadripartite, comprising the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO), and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), is actively engaged in addressing these critical concerns.

The joint efforts of WOAH and the Government of India in this workshop, as per the official statement, underscore commitment to creating a safer, healthier, and more sustainable world. In a world where the health of wildlife, domestic animals, and humans is intricately connected, the "One Health" approach of collaboration and coordination remains fundamental for a sustainable future.