OIE training of Focal Points for Veterinary Products (cycle IV) English

The OIE has just completed the fourth in a series of training courses for OIE focal points for veterinary products. The seminar was held in the East African town of Entebbe and was attended by national OIE Delegates and OIE Focal Points for veterinary products from 30 countries from English-speaking Africa and the Middle-East, i.e. Afghanistan, Angola, Bahrain, Botswana, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Lebanon, Lesotho, Liberia, Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe and the host country : Uganda.

Besides OIE regional (Beirut, Gaborone, Nairobi) and head office staff (Scientific and Technical Department, Paris) contributions were made by four OIE Reference Centres on veterinary products (ANSES France, AU-PANVAC Ethiopia, EISMV Senegal and FDA United States), as well as invited regional and international experts from Jordan, Kenya, Uganda and the UK.

The seminar started with a first morning session, mainly directed to newly appointed Focal Points but accessible to all, providing a rapid overview on the OIE and its activities related to veterinary products covered in previous training sessions. This enabled newly appointed Focal Points to be adequately informed on the OIE and the main standards, guidelines, their terms of reference and issues pertaining to veterinary products.

Group picture. Picture (c) P. Bastiaensen (oie) 2015.

Starting after the opening ceremony on day 1, the subsequent sessions covered :

• Antimicrobial resistance, including the WHO Global Action Plan, tripartite activities, and respective Resolutions. The host country Uganda reported on the joint WHO – Uganda AGISAR project, initiated in early 2015. Copies of the Global Action Plan were availed to all participants, as well as posters of the recently held World Antibiotic Awareness week.
• The OIE database on the collection of data on antimicrobials intended for use in animals, with a particular focus on completion of the questionnaire that was sent to all Focal Points a few weeks ago. This session included a working group session in three small groups to raise awareness and provide Focal Points with a good understanding of the project and the requirements of the questionnaire.
• Anti-parasitic drugs (against helminths and protozoa mainly) were identified as items with specific regional interest and were discussed in view of development of resistance and the need for prudent use. Appeals were made to OIE to take this category of veterinary products on board, along with acaricides against which resistance would appear to be rampant across much of Africa and the Middle East.
• The quality of veterinary products and the fight against counterfeit products, including an update on the International Cooperation on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Veterinary Medicinal Products (VICH), good governance principles and legislation.

The afternoon of the second day was dedicated to field visits in the capital Kampala, with a visit to a veterinary pharmaceutical wholesaler, ERAM (U) Ltd and the pharmaceutical quality control laboratory of the Ugandan National Drug Authority (NDA).

The training course was funded by the OIE World Animal Health and Welfare Fund, through grants from the European Commission (VETGOV project) and the Republic of Italy, with financial support of the Republic of Uganda. The following training seminar is the one for French-speaking African countries, to be held in Dakar, Senegal, from March 21 – 23, 2016.