BOLSTER

Building systems capacity on Outbreaks, Laboratory Surveillance Training, Emergency Response and Infection Prevention Control and Anti-Microbial Resistance (Disease Surveillance & Outbreak Response)

2

State action plans

MSUs

In major cities

IPHLs & BPHUs

Supported under PM-ABHIM

Overview

Under the BOLSTER initiative, SHARE INDIA works with the Government of India and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to strengthen India’s capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats.

The project advances a One Health approach, integrating human, animal, and environmental health systems to build resilient surveillance, laboratory, and outbreak response mechanisms.

Aim

To strengthen India’s public health and laboratory systems so that outbreaks are detected earlier, investigated faster, and managed more effectively.

Objectives

Improve disease detection, diagnostics and mortality surveillance through stronger public health laboratories and surveillance platforms.
Build epidemiological and public health workforce capacity at national and state levels for outbreak preparedness and response.
Promote integrated, real-time data reporting that generates timely information on disease burden, trends and risk factors for decision-making.
Support a One Health approach that links human, animal and environmental health data for disease surveillance and response.

Our Interventions

1. Strengthening One Health Governance

We support central and state governments in developing State One Health Action Plans through multi-sectoral consultations, aligning human, animal, and environmental health systems for coordinated infectious disease surveillance and response.

2. Strengthening Public Health Laboratory & Surveillance Infrastructure

We provide technical assistance to the National Health Mission (NHM) for operationalization of Integrated Public Health Laboratories (IPHLs) and Block Public Health Units (BPHUs) under PM-ABHIM, including model site development, operational guidance, and phased roll-out planning.

3. Urban Disease Surveillance Strengthening

We support Metropolitan Surveillance Units (MSUs) in major cities by co-developing standardized induction training modules on real-time surveillance, laboratory–field coordination, and rapid outbreak investigation.

4. National Diagnostic Landscape Review

We lead comprehensive diagnostic landscape assessments for priority emerging infectious diseases to map capacity, identify gaps, and inform evidence-based procurement, scale-up, and indigenous diagnostic development.

Key Activities and Accomplishments

One Health Governance

• Supported development of State One Health Action Plans in Rajasthan and Odisha through structured multi-sectoral consultations.

• Contributed to operational and implementation guidelines for IPHLs and BPHUs under PM-ABHIM.

Laboratory & Surveillance Infrastructure

• Assisted multiple states in assessment, planning, and phased roll-out of public health laboratory infrastructure.

• Co-developed standardized induction training manuals for Metropolitan Surveillance Units in major Indian cities.

• Strengthened coordination between clinical services, laboratories, and surveillance platforms in urban high-risk settings.

Diagnostics & Workforce

• Conducted national diagnostic landscape mapping to guide strategic investments in emerging infectious disease diagnostics.

• BOLSTER strengthens India’s outbreak preparedness by institutionalizing integrated surveillance systems, expanding laboratory capacity, enhancing workforce readiness, and promoting real-time, data-driven public health action.