New Delhi, June 21, 2025 – The Department of Animal Husbandry and Dairying (DAHD), under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, hosted a national-level One Health Communication Strategy Workshop in New Delhi on June 20, 2025.
The event was part of the Pandemic Fund-supported project titled “Animal Health Security Strengthening in India for Pandemic Preparedness and Response.” The workshop aimed to build a strategic, people-centric communication framework to support India’s animal health systems and cross-sector pandemic preparedness.
Stakeholder Participation and Objectives
The workshop brought together representatives from the government, international bodies, academic institutions, media, and public health experts. Discussions focused on the development of locally rooted, audience-specific communication strategies to raise awareness on zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and biosecurity.
Expert Insights and Goals
Dr. Abhijit Mitra, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, emphasized that communication is vital for behavior change, risk mitigation, and inter-sectoral coordination. “Effective outreach in simple, locally understood language is essential to create real impact,” he noted.
Dr. Konda Chavva, Assistant FAO Representative in India, highlighted that communication is the bridge between knowledge and behavior. “Policy must translate into practice, and strategic messaging enables that transformation,” he said.
Media Panel and National Strategy
A special media panel featured senior editors from BBC News, ET Edge, and Down to Earth. The panel explored the media’s role in countering misinformation, amplifying One Health messaging, and building public trust.
The workshop also advanced work on India’s national One Health Strategy Document, a framework to align animal, human, and environmental health policies under a unified public health vision.
Technical Sessions and Collaboration
Participants took part in group exercises on risk communication, cross-sectoral engagement, and grassroots-level awareness programs. The event marked a significant move toward building a resilient and inclusive health security ecosystem through the One Health approach.
India reaffirms its commitment to strengthening disease surveillance, frontline response, and inter-agency collaboration as part of global pandemic preparedness.
