Daily Current Affairs : 25-August-2023
The concept of ‘One Health’ is gaining global recognition, with India making significant strides in embracing this approach to tackle health crises. One Health is an interdisciplinary approach that acknowledges the interconnectedness of human, animal, plant, and environmental health. Its roots trace back to ancient scholars like Hippocrates and were later championed by figures such as Rudolf Virchow, James Steele, and Calvin Schwabe.
The Need for One Health
Environmental Degradation and Zoonoses
- Human population growth, urbanization, and industrialization have harmed biodiversity and ecosystems.
- These changes are linked to zoonotic diseases, with 60% of emerging human diseases being zoonotic, including bird flu, Ebola, rabies, and Japanese encephalitis.
- Issues like antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and vector-borne diseases are also pressing concerns.
The Significance of One Health
Efficiency and Resource Optimization
- One Health promotes coordination among government sectors, reducing resource requirements.
- Collaboration allows researchers to share information, leading to resilient, sustainable policies.
- Economically, One Health is more cost-effective than managing pandemics through non-One Health approaches.
Recent One Health Initiatives in India
Standing Committee on Zoonoses
- Established by the Government of India in 2006 under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to address zoonotic challenges.
Consortium on One Health
- Launched in 2021 by the Department of Biotechnology, bringing together 27 organizations from various ministries.
- Aims to assess transboundary animal diseases and zoonotic diseases, with a budget of ₹31 crore for three years.
One Health Pilot Projects
- Initiatives in Karnataka and Uttarakhand focus on capacity-building to improve livestock, human, wildlife, and environmental health.
National One Health Mission
- Upcoming mission led by the Office of the Principal Scientific Advisor to coordinate and integrate existing One Health initiatives.
The Transformation Process to the One Health Approach
Communication
- Establishes mechanisms for communication among ministries and sectors.
- Stakeholders stay informed and engaged, reviewing progress regularly.
Collaboration
- Sector members exchange knowledge to implement short-term interventions.
- Clarification of roles in disease management is vital.
Coordination
- Routine and long-term activities managed by a national or subnational agency.
- Such agencies should be established specifically for One Health outcomes.
Integration
- Existing vertical government sectors need to ‘horizontalize’ to align with One Health goals.
- Policy frameworks are necessary for efficient resource sharing and program streamlining.
The Way Forward for India
- India should move beyond short-term collaborations and establish an integrated, science-based environment.
- Laboratories and biological sample access should be streamlined to foster interdisciplinary research.
- An integrated system for handling samples can address ethical and cost concerns.
- Researchers from various disciplines should be able to use shared resources, enhancing the One Health approach’s effectiveness.
Important Points:
The One Health Approach
- Recognizes interconnections between human, animal, plant, and environmental health.
- Rooted in ancient wisdom, including Hippocrates, and later advocated by figures like Rudolf Virchow, James Steele, and Calvin Schwabe.
The Need for One Health
- Environmental degradation due to population growth, urbanization, and industrialization.
- 60% of emerging human diseases are zoonotic (transmitted from animals), including bird flu, Ebola, rabies, and Japanese encephalitis.
- Pressing issues include antimicrobial resistance, food safety, and vector-borne diseases.
The Significance of One Health
- Efficient and cost-effective, reduces resource requirements.
- Encourages coordination among government sectors and information sharing.
- Economic benefits compared to non-One Health pandemic management.
Recent One Health Initiatives in India
- ‘Standing Committee on Zoonoses’ (established in 2006).
- ‘Consortium on One Health’ (launched in 2021) involving 27 organizations.
- One Health pilot projects in Karnataka and Uttarakhand.
- Upcoming ‘National One Health Mission’ to coordinate and integrate existing initiatives.
The Transformation Process to the One Health Approach
- Four stages: Communication, Collaboration, Coordination, Integration.
- Communication involves setting up mechanisms for inter-ministry communication.
- Collaboration includes knowledge exchange and role clarification.
- Coordination is routine and long-term, often led by a national agency.
- Integration seeks to ‘horizontalize’ vertical government sectors for synergy.
The Way Forward for India
- Move beyond short-term collaborations to create an integrated, science-based environment.
- Streamline laboratory access and sample handling for interdisciplinary research.
- Establish shared resources to enhance the One Health approach’s effectiveness.
Why In News
The global adoption of the ‘One Health’ concept is steadily rising, with India emerging as a proactive advocate. In recent times, India has been earnestly embracing this holistic approach, incorporating it into its healthcare strategies to enhance its resilience in managing health crises, thereby contributing to global health security.
MCQs about Embracing the One Health Approach in India
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Why is the One Health approach considered significant?
A. It reduces government sector coordination.
B. It increases resource requirements.
C. It is cost-effective and encourages information sharing.
D. It focuses solely on human health.
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Which organization launched India’s first consortium on One Health?
A. Ministry of Health and Family Welfare
B. Department of Biotechnology
C. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
D. Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
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What is the key focus of the ‘Coordination’ stage in the transformation process to the One Health approach?
A. Establishing communication mechanisms
B. Routine and long-term activities
C. Short-term interventions
D. Role clarification
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