Chennai: The Tamil Nadu government on Friday announced the setting up of a “One Health and Climate Hub” within the Health Department to address the interconnected challenges of human, animal, and environmental health amid climate change.
This “pioneering initiative” aims to develop integrated strategies, formulate policies, and create action plans to mitigate health risks arising from climate change, with a focus on vulnerable communities.
A government order (GO) issued by Additional Chief Secretary Supriya Sahu, stated the Hub will strengthen surveillance and research, promote inter-sectoral collaboration, enhance capacity building, and facilitate the development of green healthcare infrastructure. This includes retrofitting hospitals with climate-resilient measures such as solar panels and energy-efficient systems.
As articulated by the World Health Organization, the ‘One Health’ approach balances and optimizes health outcomes for people, animals, and ecosystems, aligning with Tamil Nadu’s commitment to climate action and resilient healthcare systems.
