World Zoonoses Day, AIIMS Rishikesh organized an awareness program at Red Fort International School.
On the occasion of World Zoonoses Day, AIIMS Rishikesh organized an awareness program at Red Fort International School. The objective of the program was to educate students about zoonotic diseases (diseases transmitted from animals to humans), sources of infection, preventive measures, and the concept of ‘One Health’.
Held under the guidance of Prof. Meenu Singh, Director of AIIMS Rishikesh and Principal Investigator of the National One Health Program, the event featured a technical session initiated by Dr. Mahendra Singh. Dr. Singh, the Nodal Officer for the National One Health Program (established at AIIMS Rishikesh for zoonosis prevention and control), provided detailed information on the concept of zoonotic diseases, their sources of infection, epidemiology, and the interrelationships between humans, animals, and the environment. He explained that, given the rising global health challenges, effective prevention and control of zoonotic diseases are possible only through the ‘One Health’ approach and coordinated efforts across various sectors.
In the second technical session, Dr. Yogendra Pratap Mathuria, Co-Principal Investigator of the project, elaborated on practical measures for the prevention and control of zoonotic diseases. He highlighted the importance of personal hygiene, safe interaction with animals, consumption of safe and clean food, regular vaccination, environmental sanitation, early disease detection, and timely reporting, urging students to incorporate these practices into their daily lives. Following the lectures, an interactive Q&A session was held with the students and teachers.
Dignitaries present on the occasion included the school’s Chairman Shoorveer Singh Bisht, Principal Tarang Bailey, Devendra Bisht, and Amit Gandhi, alongside program coordinator Dr. Priyanka Naithani, Neeraj Ranakoti, and several others.
