ISAVET graduates presented the results of their field project and discussed post-training projects to contribute to the Global Health Security Agenda objectives

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) convened a two-day (23 and 24 February) discussion on the field research work carried out by the 21 participants of the second edition of the Country In-Service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training (ISAVET). The 21 participants (45 percent paraveterinarians and 55 percent veterinarians) presented their field research’s results and receive constructive technical feedback on the veterinary field epidemiology skills developed during the basic ISAVET training. The workshop was followed by the graduation ceremony of this second cohort of ISAVET trainees, organised by the FAO Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Disease (ECTAD). This graduation will  establish a new cohort and network of graduated ISAVET trainees in Uganda, which will strengthen networks between partners to improve animal health systems in the country.

ISAVET aims to provide service training to strengthen, through a multi-sectoral approach, preparedness for, detection, and response to animal diseases including transboundary, endemic, emerging, and re-emerging diseases.

Research topics addressed by ISAVET trainees

Several research topics related to animal disease epidemiology were addressed by the 21 ISAVET trainees, field-level veterinarians or animal health technicians, who benefited from four weeks of classroom and tutorials, followed by three months of field activities under the supervision of mentors at their workplace.

Research on the prevalence of brucellosis among goats, knowledge, attitudes and practices assessment (KAP) of meat handlers on food safety and hygiene, antimicrobial usage and antimicrobial resistance among poultry drug and feed sellers, risk factors for canine and human rabies,  prevalence of salmonellosis and cross-contamination in pork supply chain, studies on Newcastle disease among local chicken and the effect of sensitization on biosecurity and farm practices are some examples of the studyh topics presented by ISAVET trainees.

The opening ceremony of the workshop was marked by the speech of the Minister of State in-charge of Animal Industry, Hon. Bright Rwaminama, who stated in his speech that "This second national cohort of ISAVET will form a formidable force against the “biological enemies” to safeguard both animal and public health. With subsequent trainings, a network for ISAVET can be formed to have a readily deployable force in case of health emergencies.” He also said that "With the support of FAO, through ECTAD, the ISAVET initiative addresses the need for capacity building and sustainability for the future of the region”. On behalf of FAO representative in Uganda, Dr. António Querido, the FAO ECTAD Country Team Leader, Dr. Willingtong Bessong Ojong, stated that “ISAVET training will help to fill the important gap in veterinary epidemiologists at all levels of the animal health workforce in the country as current demands for ISAVET training supersedes available resources”. He added that it was FAO’s sincere hope that the government engages actions that can help in domesticating the programme by budgeting for ISAVET.

The availability of field veterinarians and veterinary para-professionals in quantity and quality is essential in the field. This is all the more important as they have close links with the local community and are often on the frontline in the event of an epidemic. They are an essential link in effective surveillance, performing field surveys, and emergency response. FAO Uganda has been working with national authorities to boosts skills of frontline animal health workers to improve preparedness, detection and response to transboundary and zoonotic animal diseases and to develop skills of frontline animal health workforce in field level preparedness, early detection and rapid response to transboundary animal diseases (TADs) and emerging infectious diseases (EIDs) within the One Health approach.

For more information: https://www.fao.org/documents/card/es/c/CA7015EN/

Contact:

Agatha Ayebazibwe

Communications Officer

FAO Uganda

Email: [email protected] 

Yanira Santana

Emergency Reporting and Outreach Specialist

Bureau FAO ECTAD Africa

Email : [email protected]