Tamil Nadu to Launch One Health and Climate Hub to Tackle Regional Challenges.

The Tamil Nadu government has announced the establishment of a One Health and Climate Hub under the Health and Family Welfare Department to address the interconnected health challenges affecting humans, animals, and the environment in the context of climate change.

According to a Government Order issued by Health Secretary Supriya Sahu, the Hub will focus on tackling region-specific challenges such as rising temperatures, vector-borne diseases, biodiversity loss, antimicrobial resistance, and coastal vulnerabilities.

The Hub aims to enhance the state's preparedness for climate-related health impacts, including heat waves and zoonotic disease outbreaks, particularly in rural and coastal areas. It will also foster innovative solutions, build capacity in healthcare and environmental systems, and develop action plans to protect the health of people and ecosystems amid changing climate patterns.

Key activities of the Hub include:

• Developing integrated health and climate strategies.


• Enhancing surveillance and research on climate-related health impacts.


• Facilitating inter-sectoral collaboration and capacity building.


• Mapping health impacts and climate-sensitive diseases.


• Retrofitting existing hospitals with green and climate-resilient measures.


• Collaborating with expert agencies to address antimicrobial resistance.

A One Health and Climate Change Centre will be established at both district and state levels to monitor physical, financial, and epidemiological profiles of climate-sensitive illnesses. This center will enable real-time data collection, analysis, and reporting on diseases linked to climate change, such as zoonotic and vector-borne diseases, heat stress, and respiratory conditions.

The data integration will guide resource allocation, healthcare infrastructure planning, and policymaking for proactive interventions. It will also support the development of predictive models to mitigate district-level health risks induced by climate change.

The Hub’s chairperson will be the State Health Secretary, with the Tamil Nadu Health System Project serving as Member Secretary. Four other members from various state health and medical organizations will contribute to its functioning.

This initiative reflects Tamil Nadu’s commitment to addressing climate change's multifaceted health challenges and building a resilient, sustainable future.

HBL