FAO’s role in animal sector
Dr Owach said that in spite the COVID-19 pandemic, FAO in Uganda has maintained significant contact with foods of animal origin value chain producers and One Health Services.
This, he stressed, has ensured that various food supply chains remain alive, disease outbreaks are reported on time and responded to. FAO teams also supported Rift Valley Fever and Anthrax outbreak investigations and response in Kabale and Rubirizi Districts in 2020.
FAO’s role in Uganda has included helping refugees and communities across the country that are threatened by natural disasters and the locust invasion.
In addition, FAO facilitation and participation in the National One Health Platform activities, has been done while ensuring that Global Health Security Agenda milestones are met as per International Health Regulations.
“In this regard we are currently addressing several technical areas and commendable gains have been met in Antimicrobial Resistance mitigation, Zoonotic Disease control, Biosafety and Biosecurity, National Laboratory Systems, and workforce development,” Owach said.
He hailed USAID for funding the Global Health Security Agenda project under which the week-long celebrations were supported.
UVA makes call
The newly elected President of the Uganda Veterinary Association (UVA) Dr Daniel Kasibule called on government to recognize the role their members can play in improving the general economic and health of the country.
Dr Daniel Kasibule stressed that the rampant animal diseases ravaging the country that have led to multiple quarantine measures, are an economic and health risk, that should be addressed fully, not piece meal.
He again called for the reinstatement of a ministry in charge of Animal Industries and Fisheries, as was before the years of the NRM government. This, he argued, will help the country budget to meet the challenges and fund improved salary and staffing levels of veterinarians, especially in Local Government across the country.
The animal sector was downgraded from having a Ministry of Animal Industries, to currently being one of the departments in the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries. This greatly reduced on the staff levels needed for monitoring and supervision of activities in their sector.
“I appeal to the government to consider recentralizing the veterinary services to ensure rapid response to diseases ( epidemics) in addition to reinstatement of the ministry of veterinary services and animal industry,” Dr Kasibule said.
Story Plublished on the Independent Website