Health Minister Mehta Emphasizes 'One Health' Approach for Sustainable Well-being

Kathmandu. Minister of Health and Population Nisha Mehta has emphasized the need to strengthen the 'One Health' concept, stating that human health, animal health, and the environment are inextricably linked.

Addressing a program held in Kathmandu on the occasion of World Health Day, Minister Mehta stated that humans cannot remain fully healthy unless nature is safe and animals are healthy. 

She noted that mutual cooperation between the public health, agriculture, animal husbandry, and environmental sectors is a current necessity. Recalling that the Constitution of Nepal ensures health as a fundamental right, Minister Mehta stated that new challenges have emerged due to the interrelationship between humans and animals. 

She expressed concern over the increasing risks of fatal diseases transmitted from animals such as rabies, vector-borne diseases rising due to climate change, and non-communicable diseases like cancer, heart disease, and stroke caused by environmental pollution. Furthermore, she stated that the excessive and indiscriminate use of antimicrobial drugs has led to a major 'antimicrobial resistance' crisis, making collaboration among all stakeholders essential for a solution. Informing that the government approved and implemented the 'National One Health Strategy' in 2019, Minister Mehta expressed commitment to further strengthening the disease surveillance system in the coming days. 

Minister Mehta urged citizens to pay attention to hygiene, mandatorily vaccinate pets, and use antimicrobial drugs only under the advice of health workers. At the program, she also called on media personnel, organizations, and stakeholders to join hands in raising public awareness. This year's World Health Day was celebrated with the slogan 'Human, Animal and Environmental Welfare, Science and One Health is Our Victory'.