The WOAH Representation for North Africa hosted the training seminar for national focal points of veterinary products in French-speaking Africa under the theme Veterinary products: a vital tool for the development of animal health and welfare.
The meeting opened the welcoming remarks of Dr Karim Tounkara, Representative of the WOAH Regional Representation for Africa (WOAH RR/AF) and Mr Haikel Hechlef (Chef de cabinet, Tunisian Ministry of Agriculture, Hydraulic Resources and Fisheries).
The main objective of this event was to embrace the importance of veterinary products as a vital tool for improving animal health and welfare that subsequently reflects in the wellbeing of humans. The training was attended by 20 Veterinary Products Focal Points out of 26 French-speaking invited countries. A total of 39 participants attended the event.
A total of 23 presentations were given during the 8 technical sessions of the workshop. Seven international and 4 WOAH experts presented and discussed various aspects of the governance of veterinary medicines, resistance antimicrobial and antiparasitics resistance, challenges and lessons learned. The four presentations from the country experiences motivated the participants to take part in VSAFE and ANIMUSE and enabled them to learn more
Four sessions of group work and practical work enabled all the participants to work together, discuss the current situation in their country, the gaps and challenges, the opportunities and their vision of the regional approach in the areas of Pharmacovigilance, Quality of Veterinary Products, registration, authorisation, and harmonisation of regulations, and Antimicrobial / antiparasitic use and resistance.
The exchange of experiences sparked insightful discussions and valuable recommendations.
During the workshop, recommendations for capacity-building activities related to veterinary products were discussed and approved.
Countries represented at the training were:
