Vol. 9, Issue 5, Part C (2024)

Author(s): Dr. Vivek C Gajare, Dr. Madhuri S Lahamge, Dr. Tadung Taku, Mohini Tayade and Dr. Somesh Gaikwad

Abstract: The One Health concept emphasizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health (Trinh et al., 2018). Humans, domestic animals, wild animals, and ecosystems are all intricately linked, and maintaining a healthy microbiome is a key objective of this approach. As human populations have grown. This increased contact with isolated microbes creates a higher risk for zoonotic diseases - those transmissible between animals and humans. This can lead to the transfer of existing diseases and even the emergence of entirely new ones in both humans and animals. Our study was conducted in the tribal areas of Gondia district, India, where humans and animals, both domestic and wild, coexist in close proximity. We aimed to identify the key challenges associated with the use of traditional herbal medicines for animal health. Information regarding herbal medicine was disseminated through pamphlets, seminars, and personal interactions. Simultaneously, a questionnaire in the local Marathi language (Figure 1) was administered to the tribal population. The questionnaire, comprising five questions listed below, was designed to assess their understanding and willingness to use herbal remedies was filled up during pre and post dissemination of information. Each correctly answered question was awarded marks. The difference in the pre-campaign questionnaire marks obtained and post-campaign questionnaire marks obtained was analyzed there was a noticeable improvement in their knowledge of herbal treatments. The scores obtained for questions 2 to 5 increased significantly (Figure 4b), suggesting that the campaign effectively disseminated information about recommended herbal medicines. Furthermore, the campaign encouraged the responsible use of herbal remedies, as 8 out of 25 participants kept the pamphlets safe for future reference. This study suggest that lack of knowledge, coupled with the ready availability of allopathic medicines and the ease of obtaining medical or veterinary advice, often leads to a preference for modern healthcare. Furthermore, low literacy rates among tribal people hinder their ability to understand and utilize information about herbal medicine. The use of local languages, different from the common Marathi language, poses another barrier to effective communication and knowledge transfer. The study also emphasizes the importance of easy access to herbal medicines, as tribal people are less likely to use them if they are difficult to obtain. The private sector can play a crucial role in developing affordable and user-friendly herbal products (Karki et al., 2017).

DOI: 10.22271/veterinary.2024.v9.i5c.1671