Kerala Implements 'One Health' Initiative for Epidemic Prevention

A state-level team has been appointed to oversee the field-level investigations, ensuring a systematic approach to disease control.

Health Minister Veena George has announced that Kerala will implement an integrated testing system in all districts under the 'One Health' initiative to prevent epidemics and identify the causes of disease spread.

This initiative involves joint investigations led by the health department, with collaboration from various other departments, to identify and control diseases that pose serious risks to humans.

Field-level investigations have already been carried out in Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Idukki districts, following operational guidelines.

These investigations focused on diseases such as leptospirosis, avian flu, scrub typhus, and waterborne diseases. Based on the success of this first phase, the system will now be expanded to all districts in Kerala.

Collaborative Efforts for Epidemic Prevention

The aim of the initiative is to coordinate efforts between different departments to investigate the causes of epidemics and strengthen prevention measures.

A state-level team has been appointed to oversee the field-level investigations, ensuring a systematic approach to disease control.

Before the investigations, officials and volunteers received training, and departmental coordination meetings were held to ensure smooth collaboration. The findings from these investigations will be used to update operational guidelines for better epidemic prevention in the future.

The 'One Health' initiative is a key project in the second phase of the Aardram Mission, focusing on maintaining the health of both humans and animals to prevent zoonotic diseases.

The Centre for One Health Kerala coordinates these activities, while a dedicated center for Nipah research has been established at Kozhikode Medical College.

As part of the initiative, around 250,000 community volunteers have been trained to support epidemic prevention efforts across the state.

In another development, in August, Kerala’s Health Minister Veena George announced digital payment systems in 63 government hospitals, using 249 Point-of-Service (POS) machines for debit, credit, and UPI transactions.

An online advance booking system for Outpatient (OP) tickets will allow patients to scan QR codes for quick bookings. Initially implemented in hospitals with the eHealth scheme, it will expand to other facilities.

A mobile app for Android will provide access to electronic health records and lab results, with payment options available through the app and the eHealth portal.

Stay tuned for more such updates on Digital Health News.