TAWANG, Feb 6: A Stakeholder cum Capacity Building Workshop on Integrated Disease Surveillance was successfully conducted at the premises of Khando Drowa Sangmo District Hospital, Tawang.
Organized by the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) under a National Mission on Himalayan Studies (NMHS)–funded initiative titled ‘Protecting Himalayan Health: Landscape-Based Disease Surveillance in Wildlife and Exploring Zoonotic Hotspots through One Health Approach’, the programme brought together key stakeholders from the Health, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services, Forest Department, District Administration, and research institutions, highlighting the importance of inter-sectoral collaboration under the One Health framework to address emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases in the fragile Himalayan landscape.
The workshop was coordinated by Dr Mukesh Thakur, Scientist-D, Zoological Survey of India, who outlined the objectives of the NMHS-funded project. Dr Thakur emphasized the need for integrated surveillance systems linking human health, livestock health, wildlife monitoring, and environmental data to enable early warning and rapid response mechanisms in the Eastern Himalaya.
The speakers at the inaugural session, including Dr Tenzin Kunga (Medical Superintendent District Hospital Tawang), Dr Avang Tamin (District Veterinary Officer), Piyush Gaikwad (Divisional Forest Officer, Tawang Forest Division), Dr Rinchin Neema (DRCHO), and Rinchin Leta (Additional Deputy Commissioner Tawang), underscored the growing relevance of coordinated disease surveillance in high-altitude border districts where human, livestock, and wildlife interfaces are rapidly changing.
The ADC, the chief guest, addressing the gathering, said: “The Eastern Himalayan region, particularly border districts like Tawang, faces unique public health and ecological challenges. Initiatives such as this Integrated Disease Surveillance workshop are timely and extremely relevant in strengthening our preparedness against emerging zoonotic diseases.”
The technical sessions focused on introducing the One Health Mission, regional disease surveillance challenges, veterinary and public health perspectives, and the development of standardized data-sharing tools for integrated surveillance. Interactive discussions enabled stakeholders to share field-level experiences and identify pathways for strengthening district-level and transboundary surveillance networks in the Eastern Himalaya.
Appreciating inter-departmental collaboration, Dr Thakur mentioned: “The enthusiastic participation of the district administration and line departments reflects a strong commitment toward collaborative governance. Such stakeholder engagement is essential for translating scientific frameworks into effective on-ground action.”
The workshop concluded with a collective discussion on the way forward, emphasizing sustained collaboration among departments, capacity building at the local level, and institutionalization of One Health–based surveillance mechanisms. Certificates were distributed to participants at the closing session.
The event marked an important step toward strengthening science-driven, collaborative disease surveillance frameworks in Arunachal Pradesh, reinforcing the district’s preparedness for zoonotic and emerging infectious disease threats. (DIPRO)