Strategic framework for One Health approach to infectious diseases in Bangladesh, 2012.

This Strategic Framework establishes a national framework for institutionalising the One Health approach to the prevention and control of emerging, re-emerging and high-impact infectious diseases, recognising the close interrelationship between human health, animal health and ecosystems. Its overarching objective is to minimise the consequences of infectious diseases while contributing to food security, food safety, healthy populations and thriving ecosystems. The Framework pursues three principal goals: establishing institutional arrangements for effective collaboration between the sectors concerned; developing the technical capacity and procedures required to prevent and control priority infectious diseases; and applying sound environmental principles where disease prevention and control involve interactions between humans, animals and ecosystems. It particularly promotes cooperation between the ministries responsible for health, fisheries and livestock, and environment and forests, supported by inter-ministerial governance arrangements, coordinated surveillance, information-sharing and joint mechanisms for disease preparedness and response.
Implementation is organised around nine interconnected components covering institutional governance and programme management; coordinated surveillance; outbreak preparedness, prevention and response; applied research; networks and partnerships; strategic communication and advocacy; capacity building; behavioural, social and economic aspects of disease; and wildlife and ecology. Particular emphasis is placed on strengthening epidemiological surveillance and laboratory capacity, establishing mechanisms for sharing human and animal health information, preparing standard operating procedures and contingency plans, conducting multidisciplinary research, and involving communities in disease detection and control. The Framework also integrates wildlife, ecological and environmental factors into disease prevention, including the effects of agro-ecological change, habitat and land-use changes, and interactions between wildlife, livestock and humans. In addition, it recognises the relevance of gender aspects in analysing disease-control options and outlines a complementary approach to sustainable agriculture aimed at reducing microbial and chemical hazards while improving food security and food safety. The Framework has a five-year lifespan, with an Action Plan covering 2012–2016 and provision for a comprehensive review at the end of 2016.