Dar es Salaam, Tanzania - Today the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has handed-over equipment and consumables to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries (MALF) aimed for controlling priority animal diseases spread in both the Mainland and Zanzibar.

The equipment and consumables were given under the USAID-funded Emerging Pandemic Threat phase 2 (EPT2) programme, worth Tshs. 64,461,000/- (USD 28,6675) and were handed over to MALF’s Directorate of Veterinary Services.  They included vacutainers; dog, cattle and pig restraining and GPS equipment, among others, which are used in the surveillance and reporting of diseases, which also affect livestock.

Speaking in Dar es Salaam at the handing over ceremony FAO Country Representative, Fred Kafeero, said that his Organisation reckons the fact that livestock plays an important role in the country’s economy and therefore understands the need to control the spread of diseases from wildlife.

“These equipment and consumables will be used in the coming risk based surveillance aimed at determining the presence of viruses that cause diseases to animals and humans and other priority viral families in Tanzania’s livestock population,” he said.

Mr Kafeero added that the EPT2 programme also enhances understanding of the potential risk factors that may influence the spill-over of Filoviruses from wildlife to livestock.

FAO has been working in collaboration with ministries responsible for livestock development in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar in the implementation of the EPT2 Programme.

It addresses continued threat and drivers of emerging and re-emerging diseases under the framework of the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) by strengthening prevention, early detection and rapid response capacities for emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases including Ebola.

On his part, MALF’s Permanent Secretary, Eng. Mathew Mtigumwe appreciated the support and collaboration by FAO and USAID boosting Tanzania’s efforts in addressing the spread of priority diseases in its livestock.

“This support goes miles away in protecting our livestock. The surveillance exercise will be guided by the National Surveillance Plan for Filoviruses in Livestock (NSPF) to ensure systematic and objective sample and data collection,” he said.