Context:
Recently, the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying launched a $25 Million Pandemic Fund Project on “Animal Health Security Strengthening in India for Pandemic Preparedness and Response”.
More on the News
The Project enhances departmental efforts in disease surveillance including genomic and environmental for early warning, lab infrastructure, and cross-border collaboration to improve “zoonotic disease” monitoring and management.
Two important documents aimed at strengthening animal health management in India were also released–
- Standard Veterinary Treatment Guidelines (SVTG): A comprehensive document that outlines best practices for veterinary care, aimed at improving the overall health and productivity of livestock and supporting the national action plan for Anti-microbial resistance.
- Crisis Management Plan (CMP) for Animal Diseases: A critical resource that will provide a framework for managing and responding to outbreaks of animal diseases, ensuring rapid containment and mitigation.
About the Pandemic Fund Project
The Project, funded by the G20 Pandemic Fund, focuses on enhancing disease surveillance through genomic and environmental monitoring for early warning systems and improving laboratory infrastructure.
- Established under Indonesia’s G20 Presidency, the G20 Pandemic Fund finances critical investments to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response capacities at national, regional, and global levels, focusing on low- and middle-income countries.
By implementing a One Health approach, the project aims to reduce the risk that a pathogen will emerge from animals (domesticated and wildlife) and be transmitted to the human population, endangering the health, nutritional security, and livelihoods of vulnerable populations.
The project will be implemented in partnership with the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Bank.
The project is designed to enhance India’s animal health security, thereby fortifying the country’s defences against future pandemics through the following five key outputs:
Also Read:
BRICS Nations Achieve Historic Milestone in Clean Energy Shift