Govt mulls Tk2,993cr ‘One Health’ project to boost pandemic preparedness
The planning commission has a meeting on the project approval next Wednesday
Highlights:
- Government adopting One Health to prevent pandemics
- Tk2,993 crore project, mostly World Bank loan
- Targets faster outbreak detection and lab certification
- Establishes surveillance, early warning, emergency response systems
- Expands animal vaccination and disease-free zones
- Promotes regional cooperation and cross-sector coordination
The government is set to adopt a "One Health Approach" to tackle health emergencies and pandemics, recognising that approximately 75% of emerging human infectious diseases are zoonotic — naturally transmitted from animals to humans — and that environmental factors also play a crucial role.
A new project titled "Strengthening Health Emergency Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Resilience with One Health Approach" has been proposed, with an estimated cost of Tk2,993 crore. Of the total amount, Tk2,745 crore will be provided as a loan by the World Bank.
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The project aims for completion by 2030 and will be implemented jointly by the Health Services Division, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), and the Department of Livestock Services (DLS).
The project proposal has already been sent to the Planning Commission for approval, and a Project Evaluation Committee (PEC) meeting on the proposal is scheduled for next Wednesday, according to Planning Commission sources.
Integrated approach to health safety
The One Health Approach focuses on the interconnectedness of human, animal, plant, and environmental health. The project aims to strengthen Bangladesh's capacity to detect, prevent, and respond to health emergencies.
According to the project proposal, key targets include detecting 70% of priority outbreaks within seven days, delivering 70% of lab results within three days, and certifying 80% of public BSL-2 and 100% of BSL-3 labs for biosafety.
Emergency preparedness measures include establishing epidemiological units in 45 districts, forming 182 rapid response teams, preparing 50 upazilas for health emergencies, and strengthening critical care in 10 medical college hospitals.
Animal health interventions include achieving 80% rabies vaccination coverage among roaming dogs and establishing five animal disease-free zones.
In Bangladesh, in the wake of the 2007 avian influenza outbreak, experts in human, animal, and environmental health came together to form the One Health network. Subsequently, an inter-ministerial steering committee and the One Health Secretariat were established to coordinate and strengthen this integrated approach
Strengthening surveillance systems
The project will implement the One Health Strategic Framework, covering 11 core areas such as governance, workforce development, laboratory capacity, epidemic preparedness, integrated surveillance, food safety, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) control, and environmental protection.
A National Integrated One Health Surveillance and Early Warning System (BOHSEWS) will be developed for real-time disease detection. Laboratory networks, molecular diagnostics, biosafety, and lab information systems will be strengthened, alongside training programs, including sandwich PhD initiatives to build skilled professionals in epidemiology and disease surveillance.
Regional, community-level preparedness
Dr M Mushtuq Husain, scientific secretary of One Health Bangladesh, highlighted the importance of early detection and the "7-1-7" framework: detect infections within seven days, report within one day, and respond effectively within seven days.
The public health expert noted that coordinated action across human, animal, and environmental health sectors is essential to prevent pandemics.
The project also aims to enhance national surge capacity, establish an Emergency Operations Centre (EOC) network, create rapid response teams, maintain emergency stockpiles, and implement AMR control, zoonotic disease prevention, food safety, vector-borne disease control, and digital animal tracking.
Regional cooperation with South Asian countries will be strengthened through joint risk assessments,
