Veterinary officers who recieved training on CBPP pictured during the 3-day training workshop hosted in Rundu.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with Namibia's Ministry of Agriculture, Water and Land Reform (MAWLR), spearheaded a crucial Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) training session for veterinary officers within MAWLR’s Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS).

The comprehensive three-day training session hosted 38 participants, comprising state veterinarians, veterinary technicians, animal health technicians, and veterinary health inspectors. The agenda focused on equipping participants with vital skills in disease surveillance, identification of CBPP clinical signs, differential diagnosis, and detection of diseases exhibiting similar clinical indicators to CBPP. Of specific importance was training participants on identifying CBPP at abattoir level and executing CBPP disease surveillance through active and passive methods.

This training initiative is a cornerstone of the joint FAO and MAWLR project titled “Emergency Technical Support to Control the Spread of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) In Namibia.” The project aims to fortify the management of animal checkpoints, vaccination procedures, livestock tracing, and disease diagnosis. These interventions are crucial, especially in communal lands grappling with multifaceted socio-economic challenges.

The recent detection of CBPP in Ncamangoro and Musese Constituencies of the Kavango West region on February 28, 2022, prompted swift action by DVS. FAO pledged support to the government's commendable efforts by bolstering DVS capacity through comprehensive training and provisioning essential materials such as a vehicle, ear tags, camping equipment, protective gear, and vaccination supplies.

This support aligns seamlessly with FAO's commitment to technical assistance outlined in the Country Programming Framework (2019-2023), particularly under Priority 4 titled "Strengthened capacity for disaster risk reduction, resilience building, and climate change adaptation and mitigation."

Contagious bovine pleuropneumonia (CBPP) remains a significant Transboundary Animal Disease (TAD) posing a severe threat to livestock production and market access. Acknowledged as a disease of strategic importance, its impact ripples through trade, food security, nutrition, and livelihoods. According to the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), Namibia and Zambia are the sole countries endorsed with a WOAH official control program for CBPP, underscoring the gravity of ongoing vigilance and response efforts in Namibia.