FMD
Risk Assessment Plan
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Dr Moetapele Letshwenyo, WOAH Representative for Southern Africa, delivering his opening address. Picture (c) M. Sirdar (WOAH) 2023.
Dr Moetapele Letshwenyo, WOAH Representative for Southern Africa, delivering his opening address. Picture (c) M. Sirdar (WOAH) 2023.
This 3-days risk assessment training workshop was hosted from 19-21 September 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa with the support of the South African government through the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development (DALRRD).
The main objective of this training workshop was to support selected African Members to progress on the FMD-PCP pathway. In addition, to:
A total of 11 Members countries participated in the workshop representing Members that were either in stage (0) of the FMD Progressive Pathway (FMD-PCP) or at risk of FMD exotic serotype O incursion in Southern Africa. The participating Members included:
Furthermore, five (5) Africa PCP-Support Officers (PSOs) mainly from Central and West Africa attended the workshop.
The workshop was facilitated by two experts from South Africa, Professor Geoffrey Fosgate and Dr John Grewar (University of Pretoria) and delivered in both English and French.
The training covered theoretical and practical aspects of:
These technical and scientific topics delivered by the Risk Assessment Experts, were then followed by hands-on development of risk assessment plans, risk based strategic plans, with discussion on the challenges and possible solutions for progression along the FMD Progressive Control Pathway.
The training was also graced by the contribution of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, FAO Southern Africa, EU-FMD and WOAH/FAO reference laboratories (Onderstepoort Veterinary Research Institute, OVR and Botswana Vaccine Institute, BVI).
The representative of DTRA (Mr Njabulo Motahane, Programme Manager in South Africa) attended the workshop.
Dr Botlhe Michael Modisane, Chief Director of Animal Health and Production (WOAH Delegate to South Africa) officially opened the workshop on behalf of the Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development. Remarks were also delivered by WOAH Sub-Regional Representative for Southern Africa (Dr Moetapele Letshwenyo), Dr Gaolathe Thobokwe (Livestock Development, SADC Secretariat) and Dr Babagana Ahmadu, FAO Representative for South Africa.
Dr Modisane in his remarks, emphasized the role of veterinary services in controlling transboundary animal diseases. In his speech he mentioned that: “It is our responsibility to ensure that we control animal diseases to reduce the spread of diseases internationally. As you know, as we speak, we as veterinary services are battling Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza which is coming in all forms and types”.
Dr Botlhe Michael Modisane, Chief Director of Animal Health and Production (WOAH Delegate to South Africa). Picture (c) M. Sirdar (WOAH) 2023.
Dr Botlhe Michael Modisane, Chief Director of Animal Health and Production (WOAH Delegate to South Africa). Picture (c) M. Sirdar (WOAH) 2023.
“You may be aware that in South Africa we recently detected an H7 which is proving to give us grey hairs as it is not behaving like a typical High Pathogenicity Avian Influenza. But the rest of the World including the most developed regions experienced Avian Influenza outbreaks to an extent that most rules for the disease had to be amended as food security is being threatened. Affluent Members are able to deal with the newly introduced new approaches, but question is, will developing countries be able to handle the newly introduced approaches to control these diseases.”
Overview of the participants. Picture (c) M. Sirdar (woah) 2023.
Overview of the participants. Picture (c) M. Sirdar (woah) 2023.
In his speech, he further iterated “The continent has all the time been taking into consideration important Biological Risks in order to maintain a good animal health status despite the major challenges some members may have experienced.
I am certain that every one of the member states is making appropriate policies to ensure proper implementation of policies to manage all important diseases including FMD.
The continent is cognizant of the welfare issues and the standards that need to be applied to ensure the good welfare of animals”.
Official opening session L-R: Dr B. Ahmadu (FAO Rep South Africa), Dr G. Thobokwe (SADC), Dr M. Modisane (DALRRD), Dr M. Letshwenyo (WOAH Rep Southern Africa), Dr N. Mapitse (WOAH HQs). Picture (c) Communication (woah) 2023 III Séance d'ouverture officielle. De gauche à droite : Dr B. Ahmadu (Rep. FAO, Afrique du Sud), Dr G. Thobokwe (SADC), Dr M. Modisane (DALRRD, Afrique du Sud), Dr M. Letshwenyo (Rep. OMSA, Afrique australe), Dr N. Mapitse (Siège, OMSA). Photo (c) Communication (omsa) 2023
Presentation by Dr Neo Mapitse, WOAH Head of Regional Activities Department. Picture (c) Communication (woah) 2023
Presentation by Dr Neo Mapitse, WOAH Head of the Regional Activities Department. Picture (c) communications WOAH 2023
Dr Neo Mapitse (FMD GF-TADs Co-Chair) presented to participants “WOAH PVS Tool and the PCP-FMD Self-Assessment Tool”.
Participants were surveyed on the new version of the SAT tool. Furthermore, participants have been made aware of the FMD Regional Advisory Group for the different Africa regions. The agenda of the workshop also included group work on development of FMD Risk Assessment Plans (RAP) and Risk Based Strategic Plans (RBSP).
Different areas were interrogated during the group work to answer the following questions in relation to RAPs and RBSP:
Each group provided a comprehensive output of the discussion that will be used to support Members with their RAP and RBSP development and submissions.
Participants were awarded certificates of attendance, and the workshop was officially closed by WOAH Delegate of South Africa.
Closing Session: L-R: Dr N. Mapiste (WOAH), Dr Mike Modisane (DALRRD), Dr Babagana Ahmadu (FAO), Dr Marthe Ndenge (PSO DRC). Picture (c) communication (woah) 2023
Professor Geoffrey T Fosgate, Professor of Epidemiology, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria Picture (c) Communication (woah) 2023
Presentation by Dr Neo Mapitse, WOAH Head of Regional Activities Department. Picture (c) Communication (woah) 2023
Dr Botlhe Michael Modisane, Chief Director of Animal Health and Production (WOAH Delegate to South Africa). Picture (c) M. Sirdar (WOAH) 2023.
Dr Moetapele Letshwenyo, WOAH Representative for Southern Africa, delivering his opening address. Picture (c) M. Sirdar (WOAH) 2023.
