A joint EMPRES-SADC workshop on disease surveillance and early warning was held in Pretoria from 26 to 30 March 2001, funded by FAO under the regional project TCP/RAF/8932. The workshop was attended by national veterinary epidemiologists from eleven SADC countries. It concentrated on matters related to surveillance and the collection and analysis of survey data; subjects covered included surveillance methods, surveillance management, information management and a brief introduction to EMPRES TADinfo software.
Keynote speakers were Drs Rachel Madekurozwa (Project Coordinator, Zimbabwe), George Nipah (Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries [TCDC] Consultant, Ghana), Willie Ungerer (South Africa), Cleopas Bamhare (SADC Epidemiology/Informatics Coordinator, Namibia) and Bruce Mukanda (Zambia).
Workshop participants
PHOTO COURTESY OF ROGER PASKIN, EMPRES
The project supports an exisiting regional information system whereby all SADC countries contribute livestock disease information to a regional database (hosted by the Namibian Directorate of Veterinary Services in Windhoek). The database generates tabular outputs and is linked to a GIS system - from these outputs a regular SADC Livestock Disease Early Warning Bulletin is compiled and sent to all member countries. The system was initiated in 1997 and has grown and matured since then. The regional TCP project is providing database software for use at national level (National TADinfo) by countries needing it, is giving training to epidemiologists and disease managers and will be providing new software (regional TADinfo) for the database in Windhoek.
The beautiful and very tranquil setting of Centurion Park outside Pretoria contributed greatly to the atmosphere of a highly successful workshop. A follow-up meeting, involving both epidemiologists and disease managers, is planned for November.