UGC calls for ‘One Health’ curriculum
Bangladesh University Grants Commission (UGC) member Professor Dr Masuma Habib has called for incorporating the ‘One Health’ approach into higher education curricula to address growing public health and environmental threats.
She made the call on Thursday while speaking as the chief guest at a symposium at American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), organised by the Third One Health Youth Alliance Bangladesh in collaboration with AIUB.
Professor Dr Masuma Habib said emerging challenges such as diseases transmitted from animals to humans, environmental pollution, antimicrobial resistance and climate change cannot be tackled effectively by any single sector.
She stressed coordinated action involving doctors, veterinarians, agricultural scientists, environmentalists, public health experts and professionals from other disciplines.
Bangladesh is increasingly facing complex public health and environmental challenges due to rapid urbanisation, population density, pollution and climate risks, she said.
Professor Masuma said more than 75 percent of emerging infectious diseases are related to animals and the environment, making the integration of the One Health concept into higher education increasingly important.
She said the approach should be reflected in the curricula of medical science, nursing, pharmacy, microbiology, zoology, agriculture, food science and environmental science.
She also highlighted the One Health initiative at Chattogram Veterinary and Animal Sciences University among public universities and the establishment of a One Health Center at AIUB among private universities.
The UGC member expressed hope that the AIUB centre would play an effective role in achieving its objectives.
Professor Masuma said the current government had taken various plans and initiatives to develop the younger generation as skilled and competent human resources and engage them effectively in running the country and contributing to national development.
AIUB Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Saiful Islam and Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Md Abdur Rahman attended the event.
Professor Dr Muhammad Wasif Alam, Lead of the One Health Center of AIUB’s Department of Public Health and Adviser to One Health Youth Alliance Bangladesh, chaired the programme.
Dr Abu Sayed, president of the organising committee, along with teachers, researchers and students from various universities, healthcare professionals and representatives of development partner organisations, also attended.
