YK Poudel

Paro—A workshop involving 35 participants from various government agencies is currently underway in Paro, focused on bolstering Bhutan’s One Health approach.
 
Concluding on October 10, the workshop aims to enhance efforts to prevent and control emerging and re-emerging infectious zoonotic diseases.
 
Following the workshop, a Bhutan One Health Plan will be established to guide future actions. This initiative is part of a one-year project valued at USD 370,000, jointly undertaken by Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
 
Scott Newman, the One Health Programme Priority Lead and Senior Animal Health and Production Officer, highlighted the importance of this initiative. “Zoonotic diseases can cause significant health risks for both humans and animals,” he said, emphasizing the need for a coordinated response among various sectors.
 
The Ministry of Health, Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock, and the Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on November 6, 2017, to implement the Bhutan One Health Strategic Plan. This plan aims to tackle zoonotic diseases, which are diseases that spread between animals and humans.
 
The One Health concept was first advocated during the National and Regional One Health Symposiums in 2013, leading to a strategic framework in 2014 that outlined seven strategies to enhance collaboration among stakeholders.
 
“While Bhutan has successfully managed many animal diseases, this workshop aims to identify gaps and enhance our response,” Scott Newman said.
 
The One Health approach has gained traction, especially following challenges like Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) outbreaks in 2006 and 2007.
 
The current workshop seeks to analyse Bhutan’s One Health status, identify priorities, and develop strategies to address existing challenges.
 
“With Bhutan’s commitment to environmental carbon neutrality and a relatively low livestock and human population, we have a unique opportunity to tackle these issues effectively,” Scott Newman said.
 
Under the Bhutan One Health project, the government has launched key initiatives, including comprehensive action plans targeting the top 10 priority zoonotic diseases. Notably, there is a plan to eliminate dog-mediated human rabies by 2028, ahead of the global 2030 target.

Dr Sangay Rinchen, the programme director at the National Centre for Animal Health (NCAH), said that although a formalized One Health mechanism is not yet established at the dzongkhag level, the NCAH  have been actively coordinating One Health activities, particularly in response to disease outbreaks. “With support from the pandemic fund, we are now planning to institutionalize One Health committees at the dzongkhag level.”

Relevant agencies are now working more closely together, strengthening our efforts, he said, Bhutan will also secure major projects like the Fleming Fund for antimicrobial resistance and the Pandemic Fund, which will enhance our preparedness for future pandemics.

The share for the Department of Livestock for carrying out activities in animal health, wildlife health and regulatory agency is USD 1.9million. The fund allocated to carry out one health activity is USD 0.587million.
 
Key zoonotic diseases affecting Bhutan include rabies, avian influenza, scrub typhus, anthrax, and cystic echinococcosis. The rise in population, climate change, and increased human-animal interactions are significant factors contributing to the emergence of new pathogens.
 
Since 2020, Bhutan has reported cases of swine flu across 10 dzongkhags and has faced outbreaks of African Swine Fever in multiple regions. Despite ongoing recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, gaps in disease surveillance and coordination persist.
 
Bhutan ranks 127th out of 191 countries on the Human Development Index and 70th on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) index, reflecting the challenges it faces. The country’s reliance on imported livestock products exacerbates the risk of zoonotic disease spillover.
 
In response to these challenges, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock and the Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), recently launched a USD 4.95 million project aimed at strengthening Bhutan’s health system resilience.
 
“This project will enhance disease surveillance and early warning systems, providing training for about 500 professionals,” said a representative from FAO. The initiative also aims to foster better cooperation among sectors.
 
In addition, the FAO and the World Bank have introduced a new initiative titled ‘National One Health Investment Planning Support’. This project, with a budget of USD 375,000, will help Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka prioritize investments for health threats at the human-animal-environment interface.
 
Recognized as essential for addressing health threats and achieving Sustainable Development Goals, the One Health approach highlights the necessity for cross-sector collaboration to enhance health outcomes. “Fostering cooperation across sectors is critical for improving health outcomes for all,” Scott Newman said.