One Health Approach for an Interconnected World

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

Context

• The rising incidence of zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance has highlighted the need for a coordinated One Health approach to address human, animal, and environmental health risks.

What is the One Health Approach?

• One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems.
• It recognizes that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent.

Evolution of the Concept of One Health

• The concept gained prominence during the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome in 2003–04.
  • It was further strengthened during the spread of Avian Influenza H5N1.
• The Manhattan Principles formally recognised the linkages between human and animal health and their implications for global economies and food security.
• Scientific evidence over time has shown that;
  • Nearly 75% of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic.
  • Anthropogenic factors such as land-use change, urbanisation, and global trade drive disease emergence.

Significance of One Health Approach

• Rising Zoonotic Diseases: A large proportion of emerging pathogens originate in animals and spill over to humans. Further increased human encroachment into wildlife habitats has intensified such risks.
• Impact of Climate Change: Climate change is altering ecosystems, vector distribution, and disease transmission patterns.
  • Extreme weather events are increasing vulnerabilities in already fragile health systems.
• Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR): Indiscriminate use of antibiotics in humans, livestock, and agriculture is accelerating AMR.
  • A cross-sectoral strategy is essential to address this growing global threat.
• Globalisation of Health Risks: Increased mobility of people and goods has enabled rapid cross-border transmission of diseases. Health security has become a matter of global collective action.

Global Initiatives Strengthening One Health

• The Quadripartite collaboration provides leadership to the One Health approach, comprising;
  • World Health Organization
  • Food and Agriculture Organization
  • United Nations Environment Programme
  • World Organisation for Animal Health.
• The One Health Joint Plan of Action (2022): It aims to strengthen surveillance and early warning systems across countries. It also focuses on addressing zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance in a coordinated manner.
• The WHO Pandemic Agreement aims to ensure equitable access to vaccines and therapeutics across countries. It also seeks to establish robust pathogen data-sharing mechanisms at the global level.

National One Health Mission

• Launched by: The Prime Minister’s Science, Technology, and Innovation Advisory Council (PM-STIAC) approved setting up a National One Health Mission with a cross-ministerial effort in 2022.
• Objective: To develop an integrated framework for surveillance, prevention, and control of zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and emerging health threats.
• Approach: Cross-sectoral collaboration among ministries (Health, Animal Husbandry, Agriculture, Environment, etc.), research bodies, and state governments.
• Focus areas:
  • Zoonotic diseases (e.g., Nipah, Avian Influenza, COVID-19 origins).
  • Food safety and antimicrobial resistance.
  • Climate change and its impact on disease spread.
  • Capacity building for laboratories and data integration platforms.

Challenges in Operationalizing One Health

• Intersectoral Coordination: Fragmented institutional silos between human, animal, and environmental health bodies.
• Lack of Trained Workforce: Shortage of epidemiologists, zoonotic disease experts, and data scientists at the district level.
• Infrastructural Disparities: States vary in surveillance capabilities and digital health integration.
• Data Privacy & Sharing: Ensuring secure and effective real-time data flow between sectors remains a concern.

Way Ahead

• Integrated and real-time surveillance systems should be strengthened to enable early detection and timely response to emerging health threats.
• International cooperation should be strengthened to ensure equitable access to vaccines, diagnostics, and treatments across countries.
• Capacity building and community participation should be promoted to strengthen preventive and resilient healthcare systems.

Source: TH