In a significant step toward enhancing public, animal, and environmental health, scientists from Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana and Dayanand Medical College & Hospital in Punjab have been awarded a prestigious multi-sectoral One Health project focusing on slaughterhouses surveillance for zoonotic pathogens. The project launch event was organized by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in New Delhi. The launch meeting and brainstorming session was
honoured by an address from Dr. Rajiv Bahl, Secretary of the Department of Health Research (DHR) and Director General of ICMR. Dr. Bahl emphasized the necessity of this type of model project in India, where collaboration between human and animal health professionals is crucial for rapid detection of the spillover of zoonotic diseases. This initiative was also addressed by Dr. Sindura Ganapathi, Principal Scientific Advisor office, GoI, and Dr. Raghavendra Bhatta, Deputy Director General (Animal Sciences) of the ICAR, New Delhi.
A team of professionals from Veterinary University, including Dr. J.P.S. Gill, Director of Research, Dr. J.S. Bedi, Dr. Pankaj Dhaka and from DMC & Hospital, Dr. Veenu Gupta, Dr. Rajesh Mahajan, and Dr. Manisha Aggarwal participated in this meeting. Dr. J.P.S. Gill highlighted the University’s research efforts to address regional and national zoonoses within the One Health framework. He emphasized that the objective of enhancing food safety in hygienic meat production will benefit the slaughterhouses of Punjab and improve worker welfare. Dr. Jasbir Singh Bedi and Dr. Veenu Gupta presented the project implementation plan for Punjab, highlighting the expected project's plan and outcome for surveillance at both organized and unorganized slaughterhouses in Punjab. They plan to strengthen the slaughterhouse workforce through regular scientific workshops and capacity-building initiatives.
Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Vice Chancellor of the university, congratulated the research team and expressed optimism that such scientific projects would enhance meat safety and productivity in the region. Dr. Singh said that this collaborative effort will mark a critical step in safeguarding public health and strengthening the One Health approach in tackling zoonotic diseases.
