Prevention, Preparedness, Surveillance And Joint Responses Are Four Pillars To Achieve ‘One Health’: NITI Aayog’s V K Paul

New Delhi: Four pillars to achieve One Health are “Prevention, Pandemic Preparedness, Integrated Surveillance, and Joint Responses,” the NITI Aayog, member of Health Dr VK Paul said here on Thursday (October 26). In the inaugural address NITI Aayog member, addressed the gathering by emphasising the importance of collective action. He stressed the significance of targeted research and development, data sharing across systems and organisations, and the need to streamline regulatory systems for rapid pandemic response.

Mr Paul highlighted the importance of partnerships, involving state governments, academia, the private sector, civil society, and pharmaceutical companies, to successfully achieve the One Health mission.

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At the Public Health Summit, CII launched the vision report on One Health titled “The One Health Paradigm: Unifying Health for a Sustainable Future” in the presence of Mr Paul, Roli Singh, Additional Secretary, MoHFW, Hari Menon Chairman CII Public Health Council and Director, BMGF, India Country office, Sourav Roy, Chief CSR, Tata Steel Ltd.

The report represents CII’s collective commitment to the transformation of health in India. This report highlights key aspects of the One Health approach. It’s an interdisciplinary strategy that acknowledges the interconnected nature of human, animal, and environmental health.

In today’s ever-evolving world, health challenges have transcended boundaries and ecosystems, necessitating a transdisciplinary approach.

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Acknowledging the profound interconnectedness between human health, animal health, plant health, and the shared environment, a collaborative approach that extends beyond individual departments and national borders has become essential.

In alignment with the Prime Minister’s National One Health Mission, characterised by its cross-ministerial approach, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organized the 4th Public Health Summit 2023 on October 26, 2023.

Ms Singh, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, spoke about the need to organise the public health system effectively and respond to public health challenges with preparedness.

She emphasised the importance of a multidisciplinary approach that integrates climate action, public health initiatives, and equitable access to healthcare.

Ms Singh noted that strengthening the healthcare system is a collaborative effort, involving state-level implementation and addressing various challenges such as food safety regulations, supply chain management, and animal husbandry.

Speaking at the summit, Hari Menon, Chairman, of CII Public Health Council and Director, India Country Office, BMGF, explained that One Health is a unifying framework that optimises health for humans, animals, plants, and the environment.

It focuses on mobilising resources across various sectors, disciplines, and communities to address collective needs, such as food security, safe water, green energy, and climate action.

He also added, working in silos can only create changes which are micro- intersectoral collaboration is the key to one health. Coming of 13 departments for One Health mission is exemplary and one-of-a-kind for India and the world.

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Dr Abhijit Mitra, Animal Husbandry Commissioner at the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying, highlighted the historical connection between pandemics and animals, underscoring the importance of One Health.

Moreover, Sourav Roy, Chief CSR of Tata Steels Ltd, highlighted the essence of the One Health movement as a framework that unifies different aspects.

He stressed the need to break away from traditional methods and broaden horizons through collaborative principles and capital investment.

This summit, themed “The One Health Paradigm: Unifying Health for a Sustainable Future,” provided a platform for thought leaders and experts to discuss the critical role of One Health in shaping a sustainable and healthier future.

The 4th CII Public Health Summit served as a vital platform for deliberating with multiple stakeholders – industry; academia, civil society and policymakers – on the One Health paradigm and its significance in shaping a sustainable and healthier future.

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(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoilets are used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.