The Global Health Security Programme (GHSP) was formally inaugurated in New Delhi, India on April 11, 2023. The meeting was attended by key stakeholders comprising of senior government officials. The main objective of the meeting was to inform stakeholders about the activities to be implemented under this programme.

Dr Konda Reddy Chavva, Assistant FAO Representative and Officer-in-Charge, FAO India gave the welcome address. This was followed by a comprehensive overview of the Global Health Security Programme (GHSP) for India by Dr Kachen Wongsathapornchai, Regional Manager at the Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific (RAP).

Under the GHSP, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is partnering with the FAO to support the Government of India, with a project, titled- “Strengthen National One Health Programme for prevention and control of priority zoonoses and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in India”. The overall objective of GHSP is to strengthen animal health systems in Asia and the Pacific to reduce the risks and impacts of zoonoses, emerging disease threats, AMR and bio-threats via an inclusive One Health approach.

At the event, the opening remarks were shared by key dignitaries, namely, Dr Reuben Swamickan, Division Chief (Tuberculosis and Infectious Diseases) at the USAID; Dr Simmi Tiwari, Joint Director and Head of Department (HoD), National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC); Dr J K Jena, Deputy Director General (DDG), Fisheries at the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR); Dr B N Tripathi, DDG Animal Sciences, ICAR; and Dr Abijit Mitra, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.

This session was followed by a round of technical presentations by subject experts. Dr Kachen Wongsathapornchai introduced and delineated the ECTAD Asia and Pacific Programme. Dr Mary Joy Gordoncillo, Regional AMR Project Coordinator conveyed informative insights and opportunities on the FAO’s AMR Regional Programme.

Dr Rajesh Bhatia, Senior Consultant at FAO on One Health, shared an evolutionary journey of the work done on AMR by FAO India and its pathways forward. Dr Jyoti Iravane, Professor and HoD Microbiology at the Government Medical College, Aurangabad gave a data-driven presentation on the estimation of antimicrobial use (AMU) at farm level. Dr Gaurav Rathore, Principal Scientist - NBFGR, and Dr Samiran Bandyopadhyay, Senior Scientist, IVRI ERS shared their findings from the AMR work done by ICAR – INFAAR (Indian Network on Fisheries and Animal Antimicrobial Resistance) in Fisheries and Animal sector, respectively. Dr David Hadrill, Animal Health Specialist at FAO highlighted the various opportunities under the GHSP project in India.

The concluding thoughts and vote of thanks was delivered by Dr Kachen.