nobody is safe until everybody is safe

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Saddened by another episode of the Nipah virus outbreak in Kerala. The state has already reported two deceased and six are currently diagnosed with the zoonotic (spread from animal to human) virus. The recurring nature of the virus is creating tensions for the health sector of the country and state and it gets amplified because of repetition of location. The virus is a member of the WHO priority pathogen list considering its fatality. In that scenario, I personally felt this to be a good time to write something about the One Health concept.


One Health is a holistic approach to problems that recognizes the interconnections between the health of humans, animals, plants, and their shared environment. Experts around the globe are pushing for a strategy change by presenting various studies, reasons, issues, and examples. Let us try to understand briefly the major reason for such a push.

The rising number of zoonotic diseases is a major among them. SARs, Monekypox, and Nipah are a few that we were acquainted with the recent years. According to WHO reports 60% of infectious diseases are reported to be zoonotic. Deforestation, Unplanned and rapid urbanization, and Tourism are identified as major reasons behind this rise. Standing in a parallel world Climate change is obviously endorsing all of these. This can be substantiated by the findings that the tropical region is highly vulnerable to Emerging Infectious Diseases(EID). What is worse is a good number of nations in the tropical belt are developing with low-mid income capacity. Thus it has a severe impact on socio-economic angles.

Climate change sponsored by anthropogenic activities has disturbed biodiversity and ecosystems which is rightly identified as the best reason for the dilemma. Another budding issue is Anti-microbial resistance (AMR), it prevents viruses, bacteria, and other pathogens from effectively reacting to medicines which eventually leads to a longer time for a cure and harder methods. Another similar issue is multi-drug resistance something that we face now in tackling Tuberculosis(TB).

One Health intends for integration of health by breaking the traditional notion of considering things separately. Efforts have been at multilateral and national levels. Under the guidance of WHO, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) have created a One Health Quadripartite. Thanks to COVID, to being an impetus to the efforts.

At the national level apart from initiatives that can play an indirect role like Ayushman Bharat, Production Linked Incentives (PLI) for pharmaceutical companies, or the recent National Research Foundation bill which proliferates nations' research ecosystem, the country has laid the foundation for more specific programs. The consortium on One Health 2021, One Health pilot project in Karnataka in partnership with the Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying(DAHD), Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and the Confederation of India Industry (CII), a dedicated center for One Health under the supervision of ICMR and National Expert Group on One Health are some fine samples.

As climate bodies predict worse years ahead and its signals are visible before us through floods, earthquakes, wildfires, and pandemics it is a must to be prepared. It is a crucial time to cater to "everyone and everything" with the right things. Concluding by reminding Antonio Guterres Secretary-General of the United Nations words "Collective action or collective death".




Open for criticism
Nithal S Rahman
nithalrahman@gmail.com

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