India’s first Animal Ambulance launched by Andhra Pradesh Government – Burning Issues – Free PDF Download

Andhra Pradesh to launch India’s first govt-run ambulance network for animals

• The state government of the Andhra Pradesh has decided to set up “India’s first government-run ambulance network” for animals.
•  This decision was taken in order to further boost the animal husbandry and veterinary sector in the state.
• Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has made one of its main missions to help reach out to the distressed animals
• The Animal Husbandry Department has been further directed to set up one Mobile Ambulance Veterinary Clinic at every assembly constituency
• A total of 175 mobile ambulances (veterinary) clinics will be placed at Assembly Constituency Level on the lines of 108 Services for providing Veterinary services at the doorstep.
• These mobile ambulances shall provide veterinary first aid services along with spot diagnosis and attending to emergency cases.
• One of the major facilities these ambulances will provide is the ‘Hydraulic Lift’ facility to lift animals and shift them to the nearest Government Veterinary Facility in case of emergency.
• One veterinary doctor, One Para-veterinary worker, will be assigned to every ambulance. These ambulances will also have a 24/7 toll-free call centre.
• There are around 1,576 veterinary dispensaries established across the state, with around 1,376 veterinary doctors recruited.
• Quality medication would be provided to animals.
• More doctors will be recruited to ensure better functioning and treatment.

The One Health concept

• The World Organization of Animal Health, commonly known as OIE summarises the One Health concept as “human health and animal health are interdependent and bound to the health of the ecosystems in which they exist”.

• According to the OIE, 60% of existing human infectious diseases are zoonotic i.e. they are transmitted from animals to humans; 75% of emerging infectious human diseases have an animal origin.
• Of the five new human diseases appearing every year, three originate in animals.
• 80% biological agents with potential bio-terrorist use are zoonotic pathogens.
• It is estimated that zoonotic diseases account for nearly two billion cases per year resulting in more than two million deaths — more than from HIV/AIDS and diarrhoea.
• One-fifth of premature deaths in poor countries are attributed to diseases transmitted from animals to humans.

Challenges

• Agricultural systems resulting in uncomfortably close proximity of animals and humans.
• The size of India’s human and animal populations is almost the same; 121 crore people (2011 Census) and 125.5 crore livestock and poultry.
• On the other hand, only 65,000 veterinary institutions tend to the health needs of 125.5 crore animals; and this includes 28,000 mobile dispensaries and first aid centres with bare minimum facilities.
• Private sector presence in veterinary services is close to being nonexistent.

Way Forward

• Strengthening veterinary institutions and services
• to control zoonotic pathogens at their animal source.
• Early detection at animal source can prevent disease transmission to humans and introduction of pathogens into the food chain.
• a robust animal health system is the first and a crucial step in human health.
• Disease surveillance has to go beyond humans and encompass preventive health and hygiene in livestock and poultry, improved standards of animal husbandry for greater food safety, and effective communication protocols between animal and public health systems.

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