ISLAMABAD:
Experts have called for robust regulatory mechanisms to implement 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 “Regulatory Mechanism and Joint Action Planning for One Health ICT – Islamabad as a Model District” at COMSTECH Secretariat, Islamabad.
The workshop brought together policymakers, public health experts, development partners and representatives of key government institutions to develop an integrated framework to address emerging health threats through the One Health approach.
The inaugural session was chaired by Prof. Dr. Ramesh Kumar, Dean of Public Health, Academy of Health Services. Addressing the participants, he said that the One Health approach is no longer an option but a necessity to safeguard human, animal and environmental health.
He highlighted the importance of establishing a sustainable coordination mechanism among all relevant sectors and expressed confidence that the workshop would produce a practical framework for multi-sectoral collaboration in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT).
The workshop was attended by senior officials and experts including Director General (Health) AJK, Dean of Public Health of Ayub Medical College and representatives of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), National Institute of Health (NIH), District Health Office (DHO-ICT), Capital Development Authority (CDA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Wildlife Department and relevant federal ministries. Experts from the academic, public health, livestock, environmental and development sectors also participated in the consultation.
On the occasion, Prof. Dr. Tariq Mahmood Ali, National Coordinator of One Health Workforce Development (OHWD) project, highlighted the progress made under the project and highlighted the need to develop a competent and resilient One Health workforce capable of effectively responding to pandemics, zoonotic diseases and other public health emergencies.
