Veterinary public health capacitybuilding in India: a grim reflection of the developing world’s underpreparedness to address zoonotic risks

Veterinary public health (VPH) is ideally suited to promote convergence betweenhuman, animal and environmental sectors. Recent zoonotic and emerginginfectious disease events have given rise to increasing calls for efforts to buildglobal VPH capacities. However, even with their greater vulnerability to suchevents, including their economic and livelihood impacts, the response from lowand middle-income countries such as India has been suboptimal, thereby elevatingglobal health risks. Addressing risks effectively at the human–animal interface inthese countries will require a clear vision, consistent policies, strategic approachand sustained political commitment to reform and refine the current VPH capacitybuilding efforts. Only then can the discipline serve its goal of disease prevention,poverty alleviation and support for sustainable livelihoods through improvementsin human and animal health.

National AIDS Control Organisation's human resource capacity building initiatives for better response to HIV/AIDS in India.

Human resource capacity building is a key strategy in the design, delivery, sustainability and scale up HIV treatment and prevention programmes. The review aims to present human resource capacity building initiatives undertaken by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and to discuss the available opportunities in India.There was minimal emphasis on human resource capacity building in National AIDS control programme (NACP)-I. The focus of capacity building in NACP-II was on strengthening the capacity of partners implementing various HIV/AIDS interventions. NACP-III (2007-2012) focussed on capacity building as a priority agenda. Other than short-term training programmes, NACP-III is strengthening the capacity of partners through the State Training and Resource Centre, Technical Support Unit, District AIDS Prevention Control Unit, Fellowship Programme and Network of Indian Institutions for HIV/AIDS Research.Various opportunities to enhance and consolidate capacity building responses in HIV/AIDS in India may include mainstreaming of capacity building, appropriate management of knowledge and resources, effective delivery of training, measuring and documenting impact,accreditation of programmes and institutes,use of information technology, identifying and implementing innovations and working for sustainability.Growing demand for capacity-building in HIV/AIDS needs substantial efforts to ensure that these are implemented effectively and efficiently. NACO had made significant strides in these regards, but at the same time there are arduous challenges like measuring impact, quality, documentation, operational research, and sustainability. NACO is formulating Phase-IV of NACP. This review will provide feedback to the NACO for strengthening its strategic document for human resource capacity building.