1st - 5th December 2025 One Health: From Theory to Practice

Jointly organised by the JIPMER International School of Public Health (JISPH), the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM), JIPMER, and the Heidelberg Institute of Global Health (HIGH), Heidelberg University, the winter workshop titled “One Health: From Theory to Practice” brought together a diverse group of researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to strengthen interdisciplinary understanding and promote the practical application of One Health principles across human, animal, and environmental health sectors.

The programme witnessed the participation of 33 participants from JIPMER, RIVER, and HIGH, along with expert panellists from the Department of Animal Husbandry, Puducherry, and the State Health Mission. The sessions addressed key global health challenges, including antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and emerging zoonotic diseases, highlighting the importance of integrated and multisectoral approaches.

The workshop programme covered a broad range of thematic and practical components, fostering interactive discussions and cross-sectoral learning. Field visits formed an integral part of the programme, offering participants firsthand exposure to rural health centres, veterinary institutions, poultry farms, and hospital settings. These visits provided valuable insights into human-animal interactions, biosecurity measures, antimicrobial use, infection prevention and control practices, and surveillance mechanisms relevant to AMR monitoring.

In addition to the structured academic sessions, the workshop facilitated meaningful, informal interactions that enhanced collaboration and community building among participants. The final day focused on integration and advocacy, during which participants developed district-level One Health Action Plans and engaged in discussions on operationalising One Health approaches in the Union Territory of Puducherry.

The strong participation, quality of discussions, and positive feedback from participants reflected the overall success of the workshop in bridging theory with practice. The programme reinforced the importance of sustained multisectoral coordination, capacity building, and institutional collaboration for advancing context-specific and sustainable One Health practices in India.