Opening Statement by the ECOWAS Commissioner for
Agriculture, Environment, and Water Resources, DR LAPODINI
MARC ATOUGA, at the Back-to-back Epi-surveillance (RESEPIAO), Laboratory (RESOLAB-AO), CVOs Networks Workshop, and
the Establishment of Directors of Animal Production Network,
21st-25th September 2015, Abuja-Nigeria
Delivered by Dr. Vivian Iwar, Head-Livestock Development Division
‘I thank our host, President Muhammadu Buhari, the Government
and people of Nigeria for accepting to host this workshop, and for the
warm reception accorded participants. I welcome all of you to this
workshop. Transboundary animal diseases have remained a source
of economic and public health concern in the ECOWAS region. Such
diseases have the potential of affecting the regional and international
market acceptability of livestock and livestock products thereby
diminishing incomes that would have been earned, and depleting
foreign exchange reserves of many ECOWAS Member States. For
example, losses of up to US$32 million have been reported in direct
and indirect losses in the West Africa region due to African swine
fever (ASF) alone.
Transboundary animal diseases further pose a threat to household
food and nutritional security. It has been reported that 1.7 million
chickens have died or have been culled in due to recent outbreaks of
the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI). The implications on
food and nutritional security for households that own a few crop of
chickens and lose them to HPAI can only be imagined. Emerging and
re-emerging diseases such as the Ebola virus disease (EVD) and the
resurging of the rabies disease further complicate the issues of health
in the ECOWAS region.
The prevention and control of diseases in the ECOWAS region is
therefore pertinent to the development of the livestock sector,
income generation, and enhancing food and nutritional security. This
can be achieved through constructive partnerships, an active and
rigorous animal disease surveillance system, as well as an efficient
diagnostic service. Harmonized regional animal disease prevention
strategies, strengthening of national veterinary services, and
interdisciplinary and inter-professional approaches towards disease
prevention and control are important tasks.
It is pertinent to recall and appreciate the role of the FAO in
establishing and the continuing support of the RESEPI and RESOLAB
networks in the region. The FAO has continued to partner and
support us in the journey of improving the livestock sector in the
region and we value this collaboration. However, for sustainability, it
became necessary for ECOWAS to take responsibility for the
coordination of the animal health networks in the region. The
ECOWAS Commission remains committed to this undertaking of
ensuring that the networks serve the purpose for which they are
created.
This workshop will review the progress made from the
recommendations of the earlier Regional Epi-surveillance (RESEPIAO), laboratory (RESOLAB-AO), and the Chief Veterinary Officers
Networks, and explore ways of strengthening them for efficiency. The
issues of animal feed and feedstuff, and animal genetics are
important in the wholesome development of the livestock sector.
This workshop will also review the terms of reference with a view of
establishing an animal production network that will enable
collaboration and strategies on the relevant areas of livestock
production and productivity.
You will be further required to deliberate on project proposals for
the prevention and control of African swine fever, the report of the
assessment of structures of accreditation of veterinary drugs and
biologicals, and define the roles of partners in the functioning of the
network. You will further deliberate on the sustainability of the
operation of the networks, as well as identify partnerships and
establish areas of collaboration for the prevention and control of
emerging and re-emerging zoonosis in the ECOWAS region.
Ladies and gentlemen, this workshop is relevant in moving forward
toward the strengthening of our networks for efficiency and
effectiveness. The next few days will be busy, and participants will be
expected to utilize their rich experiences to provide insight on the
documents and issues that will be presented. Such insights will
enrich the document, as well as prioritize actions of focus. I therefore
urge you to be faithful ambassadors for the ECOWAS region in
performing this duty. I wish you fruitful deliberations, and hereby
declare this workshop open”.
Thank you.