Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD)
Asia and the Pacific Region

Cows in Lao DPR

Edition: 27 February to 3 March 2023

ONE HEALTH

©FAO/Yin Myo Aye
©FAO/Yin Myo Aye
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC REGION
Strengthening collaboration on One Health
FAO along with the regional Quadripartite organizations (WHO, WOAH and UNEP) met with partners in Asia and the Pacific region to discuss  One Health Joint Plan of Action (OH JPA) implementation in the region from 1 to 2 March 2023. The meeting was organized in a hybrid setting, with about 70 participants attending in-person, and 50 participants contributing online. The meeting provided an opportunity for partners to share their One Health initiatives in the region, identify gaps, address challenges and exchange best practices in One Health implementation, as well as to discuss opportunities and mechanisms to strengthen coordination at the regional and national level across all sectors.

RISK REDUCTION

©FAO Viet Nam ECTAD
©FAO/Nhu Van Thu
VIET NAM
Improving swiftlet farming and farm database

FAO and the Department of Livestock Production (DLP) organized a meeting with counterparts to identify opportunities and challenges in improving swiftlet farming in Viet Nam. There are 24 000 swift bird houses with approximate production of 130–150 tonnes/year. The production is expected to increase following a recent trade agreement to export swift bird product to China. Read the article here.


©FAO/Pawin Padungtod

©FAO/Pawin Padungtod
VIET NAM
Improving biosecurity on pig farms

FAO is partnering with the National Agriculture Extension Centre, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to improve pig farm biosecurity and good management practices towards reducing disease risks, antibiotic use and improving production efficiency in Viet Nam. Funded by USAID, two meetings were held on 10 and 24 February 2023 to kick off biosecurity model development activities in Thai Nguyen and Ha Nam provinces. During the period, a mission team conducted a survey to assess the current status of biosecurity and livestock management in 25 small and medium-sized pig farms, and selected eight farms to enhance biosecurity and livestock management. 

 

CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT

BANGLADESH: Laboratory diagnostic enhancement
©FAO/Asif Jilani
BANGLADESH

Laboratory diagnostic enhancement
FAO, through USAID funding, organized a workshop on Next-Generation Sequencing and relative bioinformatic analysis for performing Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) for animal health laboratories from 16 to 22 February 2023. The workshop sought to develop the confidence and skills of laboratory personnel to perform WGS independently, exercise relative bioinformatic analysis with the output data and enhance immediate response to recent discoveries/outbreaks of priority zoonotic diseases.

GENDER MAINSTREAMING

GEDSI component being discussed
©FAO/Lam Tsang
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC REGION
GEDSI component being discussed
FAO met with the ASEAN Secretariat and the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Animal Health and Zoonoses Preparatory Committee (ACCAHZ PrepCom) focal points from Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore as part of the Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) analysis. The team discussed potential possibilities to integrate the GEDSI component for the establishment of the ASEAN Coordinating Centre for Animal Health and Zoonoses. This initiative is part of the Strengthening Mechanisms in Animal-health for a Resilient ASEAN (SMART-ASEAN) project funded by the Australian Government.

 

COMMUNICATIONS

Formulation of risk communication guideline
©FAO/Batkhishig Oyundelger
MONGOLIA
Formulation of risk communication guideline
Through Mongolian's Livestock Commercialization Project (LCP) funded by the World Bank, FAO formulated a risk communication guideline for the General Authority of Veterinary Service of Mongolia (GAVS). The guideline aims to support the state veterinary service in effectively planning its communication activities for priority animal diseases. Risk communication is a relatively new concept in Mongolia's veterinary sector. A consultative meeting was organized on 16 February 2023 to discuss the draft of the risk communication guideline and introduce the principles to counterparts. Follow-up meetings and actions will be scheduled in the upcoming months.

PARTNERSHIP

Preparation of the upcoming ASEAN meetings
©FAO/Maharti Rihana
ASIA AND THE PACIFIC REGION AND THE PHILIPPINES
Preparation of the upcoming ASEAN meetings

Through the SMART-ASEAN project funded by the Australian Government, FAO held a meeting with the ASEAN Secretariat and the Bureau of Animal Industry of the Philippines on 2 March 2023. The participants discussed the preparation of the upcoming ASEAN Laboratory Directors Forum (ALDF) and the ASEAN Veterinary Epidemiology Group (AVEG) meetings, where the Philippines will be the chair of both meetings. FAO provided their confirmation of support to organize the meetings.