Odisha Unveils State Action Plan on One Health, Announces Health Emergency Operation Center

Bhubaneswar: In a major step toward strengthening public health systems, Odisha’s Health and Family Welfare Minister unveiled the State Action Plan on One Health and released the Annual Report of IDSP-IHIP-2024 at a special event held at the Health & Family Welfare Department’s conference hall in Lok Seva Bhawan.

A key highlight of the event was the formal release of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the Government of India for the establishment of a Health Emergency Operation Center (HEOC) in Odisha. This initiative aims to enhance the state’s preparedness and response capabilities for public health emergencies, ensuring a coordinated and efficient approach to disease outbreaks and other health crises.

The State Action Plan on One Health outlines a comprehensive strategy to integrate human health, animal health, and environmental health. The plan focuses on strengthening surveillance and response systems for zoonotic diseases, promoting the responsible use of antimicrobials in human and animal health, enhancing intersectoral collaboration between health, agriculture, and environmental sectors, and raising public awareness about One Health principles.

The Annual Report of IDSP-IHIP-2024 provides a detailed assessment of the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) and the Integrated Health Information Platform (IHIP) in Odisha over the past year. The report highlights key achievements, challenges, and recommendations for improving disease surveillance in the state. Odisha secured the first position in IHIP performance for 2024, marking a significant milestone in its public health efforts. The Health Minister applauded the dedicated efforts of health administrators and surveillance teams across all 30 districts for their seamless coordination and commitment.

The event was attended by Aswathy S, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Health & Family Welfare Department; Dr. Simmi Tiwari, Joint Director & Head of the Center for One Health, NCDC; Dr. Brundha D, Mission Director, NHM (Odisha); Dr. Vinita Gupta, Consultant, NCDC (IDSP-IHIP in charge for Odisha); senior health officials; members of the State IDSP cell; and CDM & PHOs along with their District Surveillance teams.

With these initiatives, Odisha continues to reinforce its commitment to public health, disease surveillance, and emergency preparedness, paving the way for a more resilient and responsive healthcare system.