Why in news? Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry & Dairying  launched the “Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative (APPI)” as well as the World Bank funded Animal Health System Support for One Health (AHSSOH) project under the aegis of National One Health

Highlights:

• The collaborative project will be implemented over a five year period as Central sector scheme

Animal Health System Support for One Health (AHSSOH)

• The Department has inked a collaborative project on the Animal Health System Support for One Health (AHSSOH) with the World Bank aiming to create an ecosystem for a better animal health management system using the One Health approach.
• The project will be implemented in five States and it envisages improving capacity building of stakeholders involved in animal health and disease management.
• The project calls for participation by Human Health, Forest and Environment Department at the national, regional as well as local for creating and strengthening the One Health architecture including community engagement.

Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative (APPI)

• The project aims to cover 151 districts in five participating states, wherein it will target upgradation of 75 district/regional laboratories, upgradation/strengthening of veterinary hospitals/dispensaries, aims to train para-veterinarians/diagnostic professionals and veterinary professionals.
• In addition to the above, there will be an awareness campaign on prevention of zoonotic diseases and pandemic preparedness at community level by reaching out to six lakh households.
• These foundational activities will allow us to plan to fill an important gap that currently exists in India (as well as the world at large) which is the preparedness for pandemic diseases that impact animals.