By Joyce Remi- Babayeju
The ECOWAS Regional Animal Health Center, Network, RAHC, has moved to overcome transboundary animal diseases in the region.
The RAHC and other Stakeholders such as FAO, ECTAD, AU-IBAR, WHO, BROOKE WA) , (European Union, World Bank, African Development Bank, Swiss Cooperation) partners, kick started this move at the 8th Annual meeting of the ECOWAS Regional Animal Health Networks (RAHN) held on Monday , 19th September 2022, at the Vulcano Hotel in Cape Verde.
In a press release issued by the Directorate of Communication of the Commission, the meeting which was hosted by the Cape Verdean Minister for Agriculture and Environment, Dr. Gilberto Silva, and the ECOWAS Commissioner for Economic Affairs and Agriculture, Ms. Massandje Touré-Litsé was to mull over collaborative work to overcome transboundary animal health diseases in the region and to review the status of implementation of the recommendations of the 7th meeting held in 2021 in Côte d’Ivoire.
The RAHC 8th Annual meeting brought together Directors of Veterinary Services, focal points of veterinary laboratories (RESOLOB) and epidemiological surveillance (RESEPI) and leaders of the veterinary orders of all ECOWAS Member States including Mauritania and Chad to deliberate on the status of Animal Health in the region.
The theme for the 2022 edition was
“Horizon 2030: Situation, challenges and prospects for the eradication of Peste des Petits Ruminants and Rabies and the control of Foot and Mouth Disease and Contagious Bovine Peripneumonia, priority animal diseases in the ECOWAS region”,
ECOWAS, through its Regional Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP), said that it is committed to supporting its member countries, through RAHC which has developed important regional strategies and regulations related to the control and prevention of transboundary animal diseases and zoonoses in collaboration with its technical and financial partners.
The host country, Cabo Verde, called on member states to support its efforts for recognition by the World Organisation for Animal Health as a country free of PPR and Foot and Mouth Disease.
