The Union government on Thursday rolled out one of the biggest health programmes–One Health Consortium—the first of its kind in the country.
Dr Renu Swarup, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, GoI, launched the first ‘One Health’ project of DBT through video conferencing.
This programme envisages carrying out surveillance of important bacterial, viral and parasitic infections of zoonotic as well as trans-boundary pathogens in India, including the North-eastern part of the country.
Use of existing diagnostic tests and the development of additional methodologies when required are mandated for the surveillance and for understanding the spread of emerging diseases.
The consortium, supported by the Department of Biotechnology (DBT), Ministry of Science and Technology, consists of 27 organisations led by DBT-National Institute of Animal Biotechnology, Hyderabad.
The One health consortium consists of AIIMS, Delhi, AIIMS Jodhpur, IVRI, Bareily, GADVASU, Ludhiana, TANUVAS, Chennai, MAFSU, Nagpur, Assam agricultural and veterinary university and many more ICAR, ICMR centres and wild life agencies.
Subsequently, Dr Swarup inaugurated the International mini-symposium on "Essentials of One Health" through Video Conferencing.
Dr Swarup in her inaugural address emphasized the need of a holistic approach to understand the health of human, animals and wildlife to minimize the damage caused by future pandemics.
International and national speakers shared their views on initiating and nurturing the concept of ‘One Health’ where man, animal, plants and environment are needed to be considered complimentary to each other for maintaining health of all.
