Source: PIB
Context: Union Ministry for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying has launched the Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative (APPI) and World Bank-funded Animal Health System Support for One Health (AHSSOH) to enhance India’s preparedness and response to potential animal pandemics, in line with the One Health approach.
About APPI and AHSSOH:
| APPI (Animal Pandemic Preparedness & Response) | AHSSOH (Animal Husbandry Infrastructure Development Fund) | |
| Objective | Enhance India’s preparedness and response to potential animal pandemics | Create an ecosystem for better animal health management using the One Health approach |
| Key pillars | Integrated disease surveillance & monitoring (built on National Digital Livestock Mission), disease modelling algorithms and early warning systems, strengthening regulatory system (e.g., Nandi online portal), targeted R&D | Strengthen district laboratories, provide mobile veterinary units in remote and high-risk areas, upgrade dispensaries and hospitals, train veterinarians and private diagnostic labs |
| Implementation period | – | 5 years as a Central sector scheme |
| Coverage | – | Initially covers five states – Assam, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Karnataka |
Significance: Both APPI and AHSSOH are important initiatives aimed at improving animal health and reducing the risk of potential pandemics. Both initiatives are essential in promoting animal health and welfare, which in turn can have a positive impact on human health and the economy.
About One Health Approach (2022-2026)
One Health is an approach calling for “the collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally, to attain optimal health for people, animals and our environment”, as defined by the One Health Initiative Task Force.
