India’s Union Health Minister JP Nadda called for stronger teamwork between central departments and state officials to spot, stop, and handle future health threats. He made these remarks during the second meeting of the Executive Steering Committee for the National One Health Mission, or NOHM.
Nadda highlighted how NOHM connects human health, animal health, plant health, and the environment to fight diseases more effectively. “Coordinated efforts across departments are turning our plans into real results,” he said, urging everyone to build on this collaboration and help states roll out NOHM initiatives smoothly.
He praised the advances in standard operating procedures (SOPs), roadmaps, and strategies for the One Health Mission. Nadda also pushed for better structures to make implementation even stronger.
Principal Scientific Adviser Prof. Ajay Sood stressed that NOHM’s main goal is boosting pandemic preparedness and creating unified systems for disease surveillance and control in human, animal, and plant sectors. He pointed out the need for active involvement at the state level to catch and respond to outbreaks quickly, giving communities real ownership.
Prof. V. K. Paul from NITI Aayog encouraged participants to pinpoint gaps in integrated disease management, share ideas, and tackle them head-on. He suggested focusing on wildlife surveillance, wastewater monitoring, and fresh strategies to address biosecurity challenges.
Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary of the Department of Health Research and Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), shared updates on NOHM progress since the first committee meeting in July 2024. Key wins include expanding the national network of BSL-3 laboratories for high-risk research, the “Vishanu Yudh Abhyas” mock drill in August 2024 to test response readiness, and new syndromic surveillance projects through cross-department partnerships.
The National One Health Mission stands out as a game-changing effort that puts India leading in global health security. It links human, animal, and environmental health to prepare for emerging threats while supporting sustainable growth. So far, 16 ministries and departments have teamed up for this vital work.
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