One Health emphasises interconnectedness of human, animal and environmental well being. The idea of One Health acknowledges that the well being of individuals is intently linked to the well being of animals and the shared atmosphere. The idea is just not new, however has develop into extra essential as a result of emergence of novel pathogens from animals and incidence of illness outbreaks and pandemics in people.

Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, ebola, zika, avian flu, swine flu, that have an effect on people and animals, COVID-19 pandemic grew to become the centre of focus in current occasions.

As COVID-19 was declared a public well being emergency of worldwide concern that devastated worldwide well being sectors and financial system, huge consideration has been given to its pathobiology, prevention and management measures in any respect ranges.

Being zoonotic illness with numerous host vary, interdisciplinary approaches helped in curbing the pandemic. This helped in bringing collectively numerous disciplines concerned at numerous ranges of bio-control technique and implementing a multidisciplinary method which varieties the premise of One Health idea.

There have been illness pathogens originating from animals and affecting people in previous too. However these animal-origin ailments are on the rise now. More than 60% of the ailments affecting people are of zoonotic nature and upto 75% of latest or rising infectious ailments are zoonotic in origin. Every 12 months 3 new human pathogens are found.

Scientists estimate that greater than 6 out of each 10 recognized infectious ailments in folks might be unfold from animals, and three out of each 4 new or rising infectious ailments in folks come from animals. Globally, about one billion instances of sickness and hundreds of thousands of deaths happen yearly from zoonoses.

One Health method addresses the threats emanating at human-animal-environment interface apart from public well being issues together with antimicrobial resistance, environmental well being, meals security, psychological well being, vector-borne ailments, zoonotic ailments, and rather more.

It offers platform for joint efforts in One Health schooling and consciousness. Experts and group can collaborate, talk and coordinate with companions working in animal, human, and environmental well being in addition to different related areas that type a necessary a part of the One Health method. 

Medical and veterinary fraternity together with environmental, socio-political authorities and specialists from different fields can assist in fostering approaches of One Health idea.

Realising the significance of One Health, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology of Kashmir (SKUAST-Ok), Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura and Government Medical College (GMC) Srinagar not too long ago signed a declaration on One Health at Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry (FVSc and AH) Shuhama throughout a weeklong occasion on coverage planning in One Health. The occasion was attended by nationwide and worldwide specialists and burdened for establishing a School of One Health in Jammu and Kashmir.

Memorandums of understanding (MoUs) have been additionally signed by the SKUAST-Ok, SKIMS and GMC for joint or collaborative tutorial and analysis endeavours. The institution of School of One Health will put UT of J & Ok among the many record of first few states/UTs within the nation to have such a unified platform for placing joint efforts for enhancing high quality of public life.

The collaborative working environment can assist in deciphering numerous well being maladies but to be investigated on this a part of the world. It can even present platform for joint consciousness and motion towards numerous public well being points originating from agriculture, animal husbandry or medical fields and risking the well being and lives of animals, vegetation or folks by posing fixed threats.

Besides zoonotic ailments, antimicrobial resistance, drug residues, agrochemical residues, or rising canine inhabitants are a few of the seen points that have to be catered to safeguard public well being and atmosphere, and One Health appears to be the one rostrum that may present resolution.

Involving different stake holders of One Health in future together with agriculturalists, environmentalists, geologists, meteorologists, municipalities, and specialists from allied fields is a prerequisite and far wanted initiative to be undertaken for fixing issues confronted by the folks.

Not solely infectious ailments, however different ailments or adversaries affecting livestock and plant well being, and impeding productiveness inflicting financial losses to farmers and meals insecurity to folks additionally must be addressed. This contains illness outbreaks, pest infestations, floods, droughts, premature snow falls and lots of extra pure and man-made calamities that starve the lots and strangulate the general public well being.

SKUAST-Ok underneath the management of Prof. Nazir Ahmad Ganai, Vice Chancellor has taken a leap on this route and the method of One Health appears turning into actuality by involving different stake holders again and again in numerous occasions held on the college or its campuses and constructive vibrations from medical, veterinary and allied fraternities have set the tone for working collectively underneath One Health for the betterment of individuals.

The initiatives taken for One Health have already been appreciated by specialists from World Bank who visited SKUAST-Ok not too long ago. Let’s hope that institution of faculty of One Health turns into a actuality, and it is going to be a dream come true for a lot of professionals to work collectively for higher animal, human and ecosystem well being.

Dr. Mohammad Iqbal Yatoo, Assistant Professor, FVSc and AH Shuhama

Dr. Ajaz Ahmad Dar, Head, Preventive Medicine Division, FVSc and AH Shuhama