2008: the Outcomes and lessons learned

The year 2008 was definitely a year of intense regional networking activities and launching of various regional programmes on the respective component of our mission. The FAO ECTAD Unit in the Regional Animal Health Center (RAHC) of Bamako, has completed its staff and built an efficient organogramme.

REGIONAL ACTIVITIES AND STRATEGY

The RESOLAB is already one year old and the second general meeting held in December 2008 showed clearly the great work accomplished: The three groups defined in 2007 have improved their premises, completed their equipment and received appropriate training (group 2 and 3). Beside, the first Ring test ever organised in Western and Central Africa for HPAI Lab Diagnosis was a success. Results were globally satisfactory (final coded result to be soon released on the web site) nevertheless the ring test also put in light some gaps that are still to be filled before we could talk of a real harmonization among groups of same level. Through our web site (www.fao-ectad-bamako.org ), flow of specific information and lively exchanges are supporting the concept of network. Labs technical staff met at least twice this year and strong friendly relationship were born to break the depressing feeling of isolation that could be faced sometimes in less fortunate lab. Main constraints were identified depending on the country specificities as: lack of human resources, lack of national budget for running cost and basic consumable, need for surveillance strategy that would provide samples on regular bases for priority diseases, and last but not least the crucial need for metrology services in order to improve the reliability of sophisticated diagnostic equipment.

The RESEPI (regional epidemiosurveillance network of national epidemio-surveillance systems) completed an overall update of preparedness through indoor simulation exercises (Bamako (francophone West Africa) and Accra (English speaking countries) in 2007) including a special session in Praia that gathered Portuguese speaking countries from west, central and South Africa. Finally Douala welcomed the last session for Central Africa Country (Oct 2008). Thank to those simulations based on realistic scenario and implemented on a large scaled model, Veterinary services could raise their awareness on the necessity for coordination between technicians and security forces to ensure operational and efficient response in case of an HPAI (or any other Transboundary Animal Disease TAD) outbreak. Again, information and related documents were made available on line in the Web site. RESEPI had its first formal annual meeting in December 2008 which outcomes approved the regional activities undertaken this year. The political role of the REC ECOWAS, UEMOA CEMAC etc., and the technical leadership of the Regional Animal Health centre was confirmed. Following the RESEPI recommendation, the implementation of harmonized national databases was encouraged and new conditions to obtain TADinfo software were proposed. These new conditions, as well as the reflection on this important issue, were presented and facilitated during the OIE: FAO/IBAR workshop on WAHIS and sanitary databases in June 2008. Thanks to this new strategy the following countries in West Africa are using or will be soon using this database to monitor their epidemiosurveillance. (Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, Benin, Mali, Niger, Togo, the Gambia, and Guinea Bissau).

Addressing specific questions such as risk issues related to trade, cross border meeting were organized in cooperation with regional economic institution (ECOWAS UEMOA) and solutions were proposed that involves both RESEPI and RESECOP (Socio economics and production network) such as harmonized and secured Sanitary Certificates.

Finally, FAO is launching an important support programme both national and regional to identified priority action on a medium term bases (National Medium Term Priority Plan for Anima Health: NMTPP-AH). These documents will look more like a portfolio of concept notes that will help FAO to pledge the necessary funds from the donors and to focus on relevant fields of competence. The first example has been finalised in Central Africa for DRC and the great lakes area.

RESECOP The Socio economics, production and biodiversity unit of FAO ECTAD is focusing on three important issues that play key roles in the fight against avian influenza: • a comprehensive knowledge of the poultry sector to assess risks and impacts • the efficacious management of trade and cross border exchanges, • the improvement and control of Biosecurity along the value chain The importance of updated info on the poultry population and value chain is now been accepted and beside general poultry review in most of the West and central Africa, special value chain studies have been implemented in four countries (Togo, Burkina Faso, Ghana and Cote d’Ivoire. Census of modern poultry in Mali was completed through a 6 month training period that allowed a student to complete his master degree. A Special methodology for traditional poultry census has been developed in Burkina Faso. Following recommendation from various cross border meeting, a harmonized sanitary certificate for poultry and poultry product was proposed, edited and accepted for a pilot test in the ECOWAS countries. This certificate will improve traceability and surveillance at the borders. In collaboration with USAID STOP-AI, a training programme on Biosecurity was organized for clusters of country sharing same borders, language, or epidemiological situation; A manual presenting guidelines to improve biosecurity on live bird market has been produced and will be disseminate under appropriate format and media for different target audiences. The RESECOP is also working to support and facilitate exchange of information among stakeholders and to strengthen regional and national professional organisation of the poultry sector. (UOFA:Union de Organisations de la Filière Avicole de l’UEMOA)

RESOCOM Communication plays a transversal and overall role in animal health activities. 2008 saw the recruitment of the communication team in Bamako and the launching of a website to support network activities and the dissemination of specific technical information. The RESOCOM (Regional communication network) was organized in January 2008 during an important technical workshop and have been working on communication issues within the veterinary services as well as vet services’ contribution to national communication plans. Three important notions have been explained and adopted and the CVOs that:
 Communication has three facets: information management, social communication, and visibility
 Communication is a multidisciplinary team work
 The dialogue between private and public sector is essential for an efficient /efficacious communication activity.
Methodology to build useful messages has been explained and Communication committees have been developed in all member countries.

SPECIFIC COUNTRY ACTIVITIES

Specific actions on targeted countries have been undertaken or resumed such as rehabilitation of basic diagnostic capacities in Sierra Leone and Liberia, and advanced diagnostic capacity (PCR) in Burkina and Benin. In the case of Sierra Leone a three week mission from Central veterinary Laboratory of Mali allowed local experts to install the equipment and train the staff in TEKO facilities. Sweden contribution (experts) was, and will be, coordinated by FAO to deliver further training.

In Nigeria: active epidemiosurveillance on live bird markets have been efficiently facilitated and resulted in the isolation of a new strain of H5N1 HPAI on a healthy duck.
In Togo, FAO CMC and ECTAD supported the early response to the last recent outbreak and the compensation procedures. Following the important Anthrax outbreaks of 2007, FAO launched a 9 month TCP project to control Anthrax in perspective of a more comprehensive regional project.
In Cote d’Ivoire, a CMC /ECTAD Bamako mission assessed the deteriorated situation of animal health in the northern part of the country.
in Senegal, a mission of epidemiological assessment was coordinate from Bamako to address the endemic African Horse sickness situation (peste equine).

The FAO ECTAD regional Unit together with its partners is also participating actively to the global reflection on animal health issues of international importance and the future role of Regional Animal Health Centres.

Constraints

A better knowledge on HPAI in Africa led to an improved biosecurity and more efficient early warning system. This year, the cases of HPAI in west and central Africa were less numerous faster detected and adequately treated. Therefore the publicity around HPAI is less abundant and less dramatic. International economic crisis is also driving donors’ attention toward other priorities and the lack of funds might jeopardise our activities on a medium to long term.
Important endemic diseases including zoonoses are being neglected because we ignore their real impact on micro and macro economics …
The mobilization of governments and regional economic communities is crucial to send the right messages to the donor’s community and avoid loss of means and energy.
FAO ECTAD units and the Regional Animal Health Centre could facilitate the impact assessment and help the authorities to build sound requests.

Sincerely,

The Regional Coordinator and ECTAD Team in Bamako