The FAOR Fred Kafeero displaying the award in his office

Abuja - On 15 May, the Food and Agriculture Organization's Emergency Center for Transboundary Animal Diseases (FAO ECTAD) was honoured with a prestigious award by the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) for its exceptional contributions to training animal health workers through the In-Service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training (ISAVET) programme.

The award was received during the Annual Leaders’ summit held in Abuja. The recognition results from FAO ECTAD's exceptional efforts in training epidemiologists and bolstering their capacity to prevent, detect and control emerging and re-emerging transboundary animal diseases (TADs) in Nigeria. This commendation underscores the critical role of veterinary professionals in preserving the health and prosperity of communities reliant on animal-related livelihoods, food security, and nutrition. With funding support from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Texas A & M University, ISAVET is a FAO ECTAD's groundbreaking initiative that launched its first cohort in 2021. This training programme has been instrumental in strengthening the knowledge and skills of frontline animal health workers to prevent, detect and respond to diseases effectively. So far, FAO ECTAD, through ISAVET, has trained over 90 veterinarians through four cohorts (the last one is currently underway) in the last two years at subnational levels, where the biggest gap in surveillance and epidemiology skills is found.

The recognition from NVMA highlights the significant impact of FAO ECTAD's efforts in Nigeria to bridge existing gaps in the animal health sector. Thus, it serves as a powerful testament to the importance of investing in animal health and capacity building. With the collaboration of the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, veterinary services at national and subnational levels as well as other stakeholders, FAO ECTAD identified critical gaps in knowledge and skills within the animal health sector, which needed urgent intervention.

The ISAVET training has largely addressed these gaps through targeted training modules, empowering the veterinary workforce to better handle emerging and re-emerging transboundary animal diseases. By adopting an integrative One Health approach, ISAVET training has enhanced field-level preparedness, early detection, and rapid response capabilities, equipping frontline veterinarians with the necessary skills to address animal health challenges and their interconnectedness with human health and environmental concerns.

Commenting on the award, the FAO Representative in Nigeria Fred Kafeero said it is encouraging and at the same time a challenge to do more. “We are determined to give the necessary support within the mandate of our agency and available resources, to the government and people of Nigeria. We are aware that people’s livelihoods, guaranteed food security and nutrition cannot be achieved if animal health concerns are not well taken care of”, he noted.

"We extend our sincere appreciation to the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association for this recognition," said ECTAD Country Team Leader Dr. OttoVianney Muhinda, "We look forward to continuing our collaboration to build a strong frontline veterinary workforce in epidemiology and ensure the health and prosperity of communities relying on animal resources in Nigeria."

As FAO ECTAD continues to forge ahead, its commitment to the national goal of building a strong frontline veterinary workforce remains unwavering.  Initiatives like ISAVET strengthen laboratories and build capacities in different fields of epidemiologist across the country, especially in communities that can rely on ISAVET-trained staff to protect human and animal lives, livelihoods and general welfare. ISAVET also supports national efforts to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and to promote a resilient veterinary system that can effectively prevent, detect, and respond to TADs and other diseases of zoonotic importance, that can be transmitted from animals to humans.