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Animal Health Security Project
Context:
The Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying launched the Animal Health Security Strengthening in India for Pandemic Preparedness and Response project.
Overview of the Project:
- Objective: To enhance India’s preparedness against zoonotic diseases which have been responsible for many of the world’s major pandemics, including the recent COVID-19 crisis.
- The project is designed to strengthen surveillance systems, improve disease detection, and develop better response mechanisms for controlling animal health threats.
- Funding: This initiative is a part of India’s commitment to pandemic preparedness, supported by the Pandemic Fund, a global initiative launched under the G20 presidency of Indonesia in 2022.
- The fund’s primary objective is to assist low- and middle-income countries in building their capacity to manage and prevent pandemics.
- In its first round of investments, the Pandemic Fund mobilised $2 billion, and India received $25 million in funding for this project, which is expected to be completed by August 2026.
- Implementation Agencies: It will be implemented with the support of three major international agencies: the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the World Bank, Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
- Timeline: The project is expected to be completed by August 2026.
Key Interventions Planned:
- Strengthening and integrating disease surveillance: This includes improving early warning systems to detect potential outbreaks before they spread.
- Upgrading laboratory networks: This will help improve the capabilities for diagnosing and tracking animal health threats.
- Improving data systems: Strengthening interoperable data systems will enhance communication and coordination across agencies.
- Building human resource capacity: Developing skills in data analytics, risk analysis, and communication to better respond to health threats.
- Cross-border collaboration: Strengthening India’s role in regional cooperation for addressing transboundary animal diseases, which could potentially lead to wider outbreaks.
Why is this Project Needed?
- The World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared six public health emergencies of international concern in recent decades, with five of them being zoonotic.
- The COVID-19 pandemic, for instance, was caused by a virus that likely originated in animals.
- With two-thirds of infectious diseases in humans originating from animals, it is essential for countries like India, with its vast livestock population, to focus on animal health security as part of future pandemic preparedness.
- India’s 536 million livestock and large wildlife populations make it a critical point for zoonotic disease emergence.
- Strengthening its animal health systems will not only help in preventing future pandemics but will also safeguard nutritional security and livelihoods, particularly for vulnerable populations dependent on agriculture and livestock.
Expected Outcomes:
- Augmentation of laboratory and vaccine manufacturing systems to enhance the country’s ability to respond to disease outbreaks.
- Strengthened surveillance and early warning systems to quickly detect animal health threats.
- Enhanced human resource capacity and competency in data management, analytics, and risk communication.
- Upgraded data systems and analytics, improving risk analysis and communication to ensure timely responses.
- Addressing institutional capacity gaps at national and regional levels will be critical for the long-term sustainability of the project’s impact.
