Islamabad–The Global Rinderpest Post-Eradication Security: Phase II, project was launched today. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) led the inception meeting to kick-off project activities in the country. The meeting brought all stakeholders on board, including the Ministry of National Food Security & Research and provincial livestock departments, to work together to minimize the risk of re-emergence of rinderpest.

Ms. Mina Dowlatchahi, FAO representative in Pakistan, Dr. Khurshid Ahmad, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, Dr. Samia Metwally, Senior Animal Health Officer FAO HQ, Dr. Afzal, Project Coordinator FMD FAO, Dr. Masood Rabbani, Chairman, Pakistan Veterinary Medical Council and Director General of livestock authorities from all provinces, Academia, Epidemiologist and representatives from livestock associations  attended the meeting.

Welcoming participants, Dr. Khurshid Ahmad, Animal Husbandry Commissioner, stressed that the country will benefit from the project activities. Referring to the Cooperative Program agreement between FAO and Government of Pakistan, Dr. Khurshid said that the country agreed to implement the project and now it’s our collective responsibility to support the project and maintain the global freedom from rinderpest.

Ms. Mina Dowlatchahi, FAO Representative in Islamabad lauded the role of FAO-OIE Rinderpest Secretariat for coordinated activities of rinderpest eradication in the world, she also welcomed the project in the country, in the larger interest of the livestock keepers and rural community. The FAO Representative in Pakistan pointed out that women participation in the project activities needs to be ensured, as women represent half of the country’s population.

Dr. Samia Metwally, Senior Animal Health Officer, FAO-HQ, elaborated the global status of rinderpest and project framework. She highlighted the importance of Global Rinderpest Action Plan and its effectiveness for emergency management and stressed for contextualized national contingency plan.

In Pakistan, the project will focus on:

1. Developing and deploying rinderpest communication materials for livestock keepers, pastoral community and wildlife managers;
2. Developing and deploying awareness materials for academia, researchers etc.
3. Disseminating E-Learning modules for veterinarians and animal health workers

A key part of maintaining global freedom from rinderpest is the ability to respond to an outbreak should it occur.  The transboundary animal diseases are one of the preventable animal health issues affecting a large proportion of the livestock in Pakistan. The awareness raising communication campaign targeting the frontlines including the livestock keepers, veterinarians and animal health workers will limit the risk and impact of the virus re-emerging and impacting livelihoods, trade and food security. More importantly, keeping this dreadful disease in the student curriculum and among academic scholars is important to ensure prevention.