These outcomes of the One Health Mission will be supported by critical enabling initiatives. Many of these initiatives are ongoing and will be strengthened under the mission and several new activities that will facilitate the goals of the mission will be undertaken.
The ability to predict, detect and respond to an infectious disease reflects fundamental capability of a system, and the efforts mentioned above are useful not just for natural origins of the infection but also accidental or intentional spreads. One Health concept is comprehensive and encompasses overall health of all living beings as well as that of the environment. This includes issues such as food security, water quality, antimicrobial resistance, and climate change. These are also being handled globally through quadripartite and G-20 forum. This mission aims to take up the specific issue of integrated disease control and pandemic preparedness within the broader landscape of One Health. Achieving meaningful progress in a focused manner will not only help in addressing this important topic and but also will provide valuable insights and lessons to further take up other issues of One Health.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined Zoonotic diseases, as those diseases and infections, which are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and man, and infections that are shared between vertebrates and man. The zoonotic diseases include viral (rabies, yellow fever, influenza, Kyasanur forest disease, etc.), bacterial (anthrax, brucellosis, plague, leptospirosis, salmonellosis, etc.), rickettsial (tick typhus, scrub typhus, murine typhus, etc.), protozoal (toxoplasmosis, leishmaniasis, trypanosomiasis, etc.), helminths (hydatid disease, taeniasis, schistosomiasis, leishmaniasis, etc.), fungal (histoplasmosis, cryptococcus, etc.), and ectoparasites (scabies, myasis, etc.).
75% of newly emerging infectious diseases that have affected people over the last three decades are zoonotic in nature. One Health recognizes this interconnectedness and aims to prevent, detect, and respond to these threats more effectively.
(75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, cautions Union Health Secretary - The Hindu)
One Health Quadripartite is a collaborative framework of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), and World Health Organization (WHO). The One Health Quadripartite aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals, and ecosystems. The Quadripartite leaders urge all countries and key stakeholders to promote and undertake various priority actions under the One Health Mission. To further support countries and governments putting the One Health approach into practice, the Quadripartite partners have developed the One Health Joint Plan of Action.
The National One Health Mission webpage is the central hub for resources for all things related to the mission in India. You can access various guidelines documents, latest news and knowledge materials on this webpage. You can further look up the activities taken up by the quadripartite to understand the mission from a global perspective.
The mission welcomes participation from various stakeholders. Researchers, policymakers, veterinarians, public health professionals, and community members can all contribute to One Health initiatives. Stay tuned for updates on our website or contact the mission team for specific opportunities.