The United States Agency for International Development (USAID), operating under the US Embassy Dhaka, unveils its groundbreaking One Health initiative aimed at bolstering infectious disease prevention and control measures in Bangladesh.
Through strategic collaboration with the US Congress, USAID commits to allocating up to $26 million over a span of five years. This transformative project will intricately engage with pertinent ministries in Bangladesh, including health, fisheries and livestock, and environment ministries, to streamline efforts in preventing, detecting, and responding to infectious diseases among humans and animals while mitigating broader pandemic threats.
Expressing enthusiasm for the partnership, USAID Mission Director Reed Aeschliman emphasizes the project’s broader goal of safeguarding human, animal, and environmental health from the menace of infectious diseases like avian flu and other zoonotic illnesses.
Bangladesh’s recent inclusion as one of the 50 partner countries under the US government’s new Global Health Security Strategy 2024 further underscores the nation’s pivotal role in global health initiatives.
The USAID One Health Project will spearhead the development of a robust One Health workforce at both national and local levels, enhancing disease detection, surveillance capabilities, and bolstering laboratory systems to strengthen diagnostic capacities.
Moreover, the initiative will extend support to local institutions in combatting antibiotic resistance among human and animal populations while establishing early warning systems. These systems will facilitate inter-ministerial collaboration, enabling efficient outbreak tracking and coordinated responses across multiple government sectors.
Implemented by Development Alternatives Incorporated (DAI) in collaboration with a consortium comprising the Center for Natural Resource Studies, Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network, and mPower Social Enterprises, the USAID One Health Project heralds a new era of collaborative efforts towards building a resilient health infrastructure in Bangladesh.
