SKUAST-K commemorates World Zoonoses Day
Srinagar, July 6: To better prepare for the public health challenges like the COVID19 pandemic, experts on Tuesday stressed adapting the One Health Approach for addressing the transmission of infections from animals to humans as 75% of the emerging diseases in the world are zoonotic in nature.
Human and animal health experts were speaking in a daylong conference held by the Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agricultural Sciences and Technology, Kashmir to commemorate World Zoonoses Day. The function was organised by SKUAST-K’s Faculty of Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry under the World Bank-ICAR funded National Agricultural Higher Education Project (NAHEP) for the institutional development of the SKUAST-K. The event was jointly managed by FVSc’s Division of Veterinary Microbiology and Division of Veterinary & Animal Husbandry Extension.
Assistant Director-General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Dr Ashok Kumar, highlighted the challenge of zoonotic diseases and said more than 75% of the emerging diseases among humans transmit from animals. He discussed the role of the One Health Approach, a WHO concept to address the issue of public health in an integrated manner, for tackling zoonotic diseases.
Vice-Chancellor, SKUAST-K, Prof JP Sharma, who addressed the gathering in virtual mode, highlighted the importance of animal agriculture and associated risks of zoonotic disease. He stressed on capacity building in terms of rapid and accurate disease diagnosis and enhanced quality of veterinary services that are affordable and accessible. Prof MS Khuroo in his presentation discussed the historical perspective about the discovery of Hepatitis –E. The hepatitis-E virus is an emerging global disease that is found almost everywhere in the animal kingdom.
Director Planning and PI NAHEP, Prof Nazir Ahmad Ganai, stressed upon integrating the veterinarians, medical professionals, environmentalists and Food technology experts to further understanding the “One Health Concept”. He stressed on capacity building in terms of infrastructure and human resources to take on the challenge of zoonotic diseases and bio-safety issues. Dean FVSC & A.H, Mohammad Tufail Banday in his opening remarks exhorted veterinarians & medical professionals to address the problem of Zoonotic diseases.
Prof. Shakil Ahmad Wani talked about the topic “Zoonosis-Role of veterinarians”. He highlighted the importance of the future generation to learn from failures in order to frame the success in future. Dr Saleem Kamli discussed the recent COVID19 pandemic and its mitigation strategies. He also discussed the positive side of Covid for bringing all walks of life together. Prof. Sarfaraz Ahmad Wani Director of Research was the guest of honour for the valedictory function. He highlighted the role of the World Zoonosis day” in the present pandemic scenario and the role of veterinarians in controlling emerging and remerging diseases. The symposium was held under strict Covid SOPs.
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