India’s first multidisciplinary One Health Training Program to Build a Future-Ready Health Workforce: Hosted by IIPHG

The One Health approach plays a crucial role in tackling global health challenges by recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. In a significant move to address complex issues such as pandemics, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and climate change, four leading global agencies—the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)—formally joined forces in March 2022 to strengthen global One Health collaboration. The Government of India also adopted this approach and launched the National One Health Mission (NOHM) in July 2022.

Aligning with the vision of the NOHM, the Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar (IIPHG) completed its pioneering residential OHNI 2025 Summer One Health School Program in July 2025. Organised by the Centre for One Health Education Research and Development (COHERD) and supported by the Southeast Asia One Health University Network (SEAOHUN), with funding from Chevron, the initiative brought together postgraduate students from across India, spanning medicine, veterinary science, environmental forensic science, nursing, and agriculture. The initiative is India’s first large-scale One Health training program designed to promote true interdisciplinary collaboration, perhaps the first of its kind have ever been offered at this scale.

“The One Health training program is one of the first efforts to enhance true convergence across academic sectors that are essential for advancing One Health in India.” Said by Prof. (Dr.) Deepak B. Saxena, Director, IIPHG.

The training centred on the core principle of One Health, that human, animal, and environmental health are deeply interconnected. As global challenges such as deforestation, antibiotic misuse, rapid urbanization, poor waste management, and climate change intensify, adopting a collaborative framework across relevant sectors becomes essential. The program prepared the next generation of One Health professionals to work together to prevent and manage emerging health threats.

Reflecting on the experience, one postgraduate student shared, “It was an eye-opening session that showed how collaboration between the human, animal, and environmental sectors can make a huge difference. It also helped me realize that we were only treating the tip of the iceberg, not the submerged portion.”

A nursing student from AIIMS Jodhpur echoed this sentiment, “Through this training, we learned how different sectors collaborate to manage disease outbreaks.”

Over five days, 50 postgraduate students received immersive training in One Health concepts, leadership development, and field-based learning. Now recognised as One Health Ambassadors, these students went on to train 2,580 peers across their institutes between August and October 2025—demonstrating the program’s wide ripple effect.

Faculty coordinators from partner institutions also praised the initiative’s impact. Dr. Namita Joshi from ANDUAT, Ayodhya, highlighted its transformational nature: “The OHNI Summer One Health School goes beyond traditional training. It creates a dynamic space where young minds collaborate, innovate, and shape the future of One Health for a healthier, more resilient India.”

Dr. Shaveta Memon from the School of Public Health, D.Y. Patil University, emphasized its relevance, stating, “The program, with its meaningful, hands-on learning, reflects the power of long overdue and true collaboration in the context of One Health.”

“To enable a more robust and efficient response to future health emergencies, including pandemics, it is imperative that health experts, veterinarians, and environmentalists break down the existing silos.” Said by Dr Naveen Ramesh from St. John Medical College, Bangaluru

Similarly, Dr. Manoj Gupta of AIIMS Jodhpur noted the program’s leadership-building impact: “The hands-on exposure and peer-training experience have strengthened their leadership and reinforced the importance of a One Health approach.”

The successful completion of the OHNI 2025 Summer One Health School Program underscores IIPHG’s commitment to advancing public health education through multidisciplinary, collaborative, and community-driven learning. As India faces increasingly complex health and environmental challenges, such initiatives play a vital role in shaping a generation equipped to work across sectors and create sustainable health solutions.

About IIPHG

The Indian Institute of Public Health Gandhinagar (IIPHG) is India’s first public health university, established with the mission to strengthen health systems through education, research, and training. Affiliated with the Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), IIPHG plays a pioneering role in promoting interdisciplinary public health learning and has emerged as a center of excellence in education, policy development, and community-based public health practices.

One Health Network of India (OHNI) is India's first One Health Network, aiming to strengthen connections among One Health professionals across http://www.chevron.comIndia and foster collaboration among institutions and individuals working in the interconnected domains of human, animal, and environmental health. Currently, OHNI has 1300+ active lifetime members from different disciplines including forensic science, veterinary sciences, medical and paramedical students, public health professionals, and 100+ institutes are joined this network.

About SEAOHUN

The Southeast Asia One Health University Network (SEAOHUN), established in 2011, is an academic and research network promoting the One Health concept. Comprising over 100 educational institutions from eight ASEAN countries, SEAOHUN builds professional capacity to address complex One Health issues, conducts research for evidence-based decision-making, and assists governments with public health surge capacity. The SEAOHUN Secretariat is located in Mueang district, Chiang Mai, Thailand.

About Chevron

Chevron is one of the world's leading integrated energy companies. We believe affordable, reliable and ever-cleaner energy is essential to enabling human progress. Chevron produces crude oil and natural gas; manufactures transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and additives; and develops technologies that enhance our business and the industry. We aim to grow our oil and gas business, lower the carbon intensity of our operations and grow new energies businesses.