PICTURES OF THE EVENT
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The FAO and OIE Global Conference held in Abidjan from March 31st to April 2nd was the opportunity to present, discuss, approve and launch the PPR Global Control and Eradication Campaign. The launch was attended by numerous Ministers responsible for livestock/animal husbandry. The aim of the Campaign is to get rid of this sheep and goat plague by the year 2030.
Dr. Moetapele Letshwenyo, OIE Sub-Regional Representative for Southern Africa, welcoming the OIE Delegate from Senegal, Dr Mbargou Lô to the OIE Information booth.
The conference was attended by some 250 professionals from around the world, mainly hailing from the estimated 97 affected countries, amongst which representatives from veterinary authorities of :
Members of academia and researchers, politicians, representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, (national) farmers (associations), donors and regional organisations such as the AU-IBAR (continental Africa) SAARC (Indian subcontinent), EC (European Commission), IGAD (ICPALD, Horn of Africa), UMA / OIE-Tunis (North Africa / Maghreb), ECOWAS (West Africa), OIE-Beirut (Middle-East), CEMAC (CEBEVIRHA, Central Africa) and ECO (Eurasia) also made the trip to Abdijan.
The Conference, on the third day, was presided by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, H.E. Daniel Kablan Duncan, the Director – General of FAO, H.E. Jose Graziano da Silva and the Director – General of the OIE, H.E. Dr Bernard Vallat. A total of 21 African (livestock) Ministers or their representatives have pledged their support for the eradication campaign. On the part of donors, the initiative has received support from the African Development Bank, the European Commission, the French Development Agency and the World Bank.
The strategy as approved and launched on this occasion, is centred around three pillars: the eradication of PPR, the overall strengthening of veterinary services and the control of other small ruminants diseases (e.g. CCPP, sheep and goat pox, brucellosis, …). The approach leaves significant scope for countries and regions to tailor e.g. their vaccination approaches (targeted or mass) to local conditions, as long as the approach is a step-wise approach ultimately aimed at official recognition as PPR free country by the OIE. Once the control of PPR has started, the OIE also offers the opportunity to formally endorse national PPR control programmes, which can help to obtain (additional) funding from governments and development partners. The global programme is indeed ambitious with international and regional coordination components, as well as national programme components in the 96 affected countries. Excluding aspects of research, control of other diseases of small ruminants or strengthening of veterinary services, the cost of this strategy amounts to 7.6 to 9.1 billion dollars over the 15 years that separate us from eradication. As much as this may seem overwhelming, this represents an investment of a mere 0.27 dollars per sheep or goat per year (the global number of “shoats” is estimated at 1.8 billion small ruminants).
The OIE and FAO are particularly grateful for the financial support provided by the Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR), the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) and the German Government to enable the participation of a large number of participants from African veterinary services.
All pictures © P. Bastiaensen (oie) 2015, except where mentioned otherwise.
All pictures © P. Bastiaensen (oie) 2015, except where mentioned otherwise.
Mr Bukar Tijani, FAO Assistant Director General and Regional Representative for Africa (left), Dr. Bernard Vallat, OIE Director General and H.E. Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, Minister of Animal and Fisheries Resources of Côte d’Ivoire. Picture © FAO (2015).
