July 24, 2024

 

Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda sign animal disease information sharing protocol

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD) has signed an animal disease information sharing protocol for the Karamoja cluster, covering Ethiopia, Kenya, South Sudan, and Uganda.

 

Chief Veterinary Officers (CVOs) from the four countries signed the protocol at an ICPALD convened meeting funded by the African Development Bank (AfDB). The meeting brought together participants from the Dikhil and Karamoja clusters.

 

The signing of this protocol will facilitate the collection and sharing of animal disease information in cross-border areas, supporting effective and timely decision-making to prevent the spread of animal diseases.

 

During the two-day meeting, the joint vaccination and surveillance calendar and implementation framework were updated. The aim is to enhance the control of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) and zoonosis within the clusters. These discussions were based on current operational cross-border memoranda of understanding (MoU).

 

In the past, ICPALD has facilitated the signing of cross-border MoUs between IGAD countries, such as the Karamoja cluster MoU. These MoUs enhance joint disease surveillance, synchronized vaccination, and livestock trade.

 

As a preventive measure, this disease surveillance practice helps reduce animal health-related risks and major consequences of disease outbreaks on food production and livelihoods. A transparent veterinary service that undertakes prompt and accurate disease notification assists bordering countries in taking timely action and builds credibility among trading partners. The practice also promotes fair and safe animal and animal products trade.

 

The IGAD region is home to over 532 million heads of livestock, including poultry, presenting significant potential for wealth creation and economic progress. A large proportion of livestock is produced by pastoral and agro-pastoral systems in arid and semi-arid lands (ASALs), where mobility is part of the production system. Seasonal livestock movement involves crossing international borders, where TADs can easily spread from one country to another.

 

Control or management of TADs requires cooperation between neighbouring countries to mitigate the threat to the economy, trade, and food security of the affected countries. The seasonal cross-border movement of livestock, in search of water, pasture, and trade opportunities, contributes to the spread of TADs. Therefore, a harmonized approach to TADs management is necessary to mitigate further spread and economic losses.

 

As part of the signed MoU implementation, ICPALD has been facilitating technical discussions on effective animal disease information sharing for immediate action. Consequently, the Karamoja cluster countries agreed on a draft animal disease information sharing protocol, which was validated in October 2023.

 

-      Intergovernmental Authority on Development