ISLAMABAD:
Experts have called for strong regulatory mechanisms to operationalize the One Health approach in Pakistan.
Health Services Academy (HSA) in collaboration with Pakistan One Health Alliance (POHA) on Monday inaugurated a two-day consultative workshop titled “One Health Joint Action Planning and Regulatory Mechanism for ICT – Islamabad as a Model District” at the COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad.
The workshop brought together policy makers, public health experts, development partners and representatives from key government institutions to develop an integrated framework to address emerging health threats through the One Health approach.
The opening session was chaired by Prof Dr. Ramesh Kumar, dean of public health at the Health Services Academy. Addressing the participants, he said the One Health approach is no longer a choice but a necessity to protect human, animal and environmental health.
He emphasized the importance of establishing a sustainable coordination mechanism between all relevant sectors and expressed confidence that the workshop would create a practical framework for multi-sectoral cooperation in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
The workshop was attended by senior officials and experts including the Director General (Health) AJK, the Dean of Public Health at Ayub Medical College and representatives from Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), National Institute of Health (NIH), District Health Office (DHO-ICT), Capital Development Authority (CDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Ministries of Wildlife and relevant federations. Experts from academia, public health, livestock, environment and development sectors also participated in the hearing.
Prof. Dr. Tariq Mahmood Ali, National Coordinator of the One Health Workforce Development (OHWD) Project, highlighted the progress achieved under the project and emphasized the need to develop a competent and resilient One Health workforce capable of responding effectively to pandemics, zoonotic diseases and other public health emergencies.
