Sri Vijaya Puram, Nov. 4: In observance of World One Health Day, the Regional Level Stakeholders’ Meeting on One Health Implementation was organized on November 3, 2025, and hosted at the ICMR–Regional Medical Research Centre (RMRC), Sri Vijaya Puram, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.
Dr. Aparup Das, Director, ICMR–RMRC, welcomed stakeholders from Tamil Nadu, Puducherry, and the Andaman & Nicobar Islands, representing various sectors and administrative levels. Dr. N. Muruganandam, Scientist – “E”, ICMR–RMRC, and Nodal Officer (Regional Coordination, NOHP-PCZ), presented an overview of the ongoing One Health activities across the southern region.
Dr. Avijit Roy, Deputy Director (Public Health), Directorate of Health Services (DHS), Sri Vijaya Puram, and Nodal Officer for Zoonotic Diseases, emphasized the importance of collaborative efforts between the health and animal husbandry sectors for the prevention and control of zoonotic diseases.
Representing Tamil Nadu, Dr. A. Somasundaram, Director, DPH, along with Dr. P. Sampath, Additional Director, DPH & PM, and Dr. M. Senthil Kumar, Senior Scientific Officer, DPH & PM, shared key insights: Dr. Somasundaram emphasized the need to balance development with biodiversity conservation to prevent encroachment of forest ecosystems. Dr. Sampath highlighted the importance of capacity building, establishing robust diagnostic centers, and strengthening research to improve diagnostic accuracy. Dr. Senthil Kumar proposed forming a One Health and Climate Change Strategic Committee to facilitate routine wastewater surveillance for AMR pathogens, Typhoid, and Hepatitis A virus.
From Puducherry, Dr. K. Vivekananda, State Surveillance Officer, and Dr. P. Muralidaran, State Veterinary Consultant, shared updates on the implementation of the National Rabies Control Program, and the use of mobile awareness vehicles to reach communities. They also discussed ongoing field investigations for Leptospirosis, Japanese Encephalitis, and Scrub Typhus.
Dr. H. M. Siddaraju (Deputy Director [FW], DHS, A&N Islands) and Dr. Avijit Roy (Deputy Director [H], DHS, A&N Islands) provided valuable recommendations for the formulation of a Local One Health Action Plan. Dr. Jai Sunder, Director (A), ICAR–CIARI, and Dr. Ruby Thomas, Dr. Shahina Mustaqim (VRDL, ANIIMS), and other experts provided their valuable inputs for the control of zoonoses.
As part of the World One Health Day celebration, the event also featured the announcement of winners of the National Level E-Poster Competition, organized in collaboration with NCEC—the first of its kind in the country. The competition, themed “Creating Awareness on Zoonotic Diseases,” received enthusiastic participation from over 750 students from medical, veterinary, and biomedical sciences. Winners were recognized across seven thematic categories, and the results were shared via a YouTube link.
The Stakeholders’ Meeting, held in conjunction with World One Health Day, successfully brought together representatives from multiple sectors, fostering valuable discussions and generating actionable recommendations to strengthen One Health initiatives and zoonotic disease control in the region.”