World Organisation for Animal Health facilitates training workshop on antimicrobials, farm biosecurity, biosafety and use of vaccines in Ethiopia

The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) together with the tripartite partners Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and World Health Organisation (WHO) supported by the Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Multi-Partner Trust Fund (MPTF) and in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, brought together stakeholders from across Ethiopia who participated in the training to raise awareness on Antimicrobial Use (AMU), Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR), Farm Biosecurity, Biosafety and Vaccines.

AMR endangers the livelihoods of millions of people who raise animals for food, in addition to having direct consequences for food production and food safety.

Dr Fikru Regessa, Federal State Minister for Livestock and Fisheries and WOAH Delegate.

The Honourable Dr Regessa, Federal State Minister for Livestock and Fisheries and WOAH Delegate, expressed his gratitude to the recently established Quadripartite (FAO, WOAH, UNEP, WHO) collaboration in the implementation of additional AMR prevention and containment projects and activities in Ethiopia whose population of more than 120 million will benefit.

Hon. Dr. Fikru Regessa, State Minister of Livestock & Fisheries, Ethiopia. Picture (c) L. Iyadi (WOAH ) 2022.

Ethiopia has expressed its commitment in the fight against AMR by continuously updating its One Health Antimicrobial Resistance Prevention and Containment Strategic plan 2021-2023, to accommodate the dynamic changes in the environment.

Dr. Samuel Wakhusama. Picture (c) L. Iyadi (WOAH ) 2022.

Dr Samuel Wakhusama, WOAH Representative, Sub-Regional Representation for Eastern Africa, while giving his remarks on behalf of the Director General, thanked the Ethiopian Government for its efforts to tackle AMR as a country. He further espoused on the WOAH’s activities on AMR and antimicrobial use (AMU) which includes a comprehensive and continuous capacity building process for veterinary services.

Dr Tenaw Tagede, from the FAO in Ethiopia, while giving his remarks emphasised the need for critical attention to be given to AMR as it greatly affects livestock. “Promotion and awareness of use and containment of AMR should be prioritised”, he added.

The participants were engaged in intense discussions, information sharing, and exchanges supported by technical experts led by Dr Jane Lwoyero, WOAH Programme Officer AMR. She walked participants through the WOAH terrestrial and aquatic animal health codes, role in farm biosecurity, biosafety, and use of vaccines. These are measures aimed for continued improvement of animal and human health, animal welfare, agricultural sustainability, and the reduction in the use of antimicrobial agents in animals.

Other technical experts from the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Dr Arshnee Moodley and Dr Dishon Muloi delivered comprehensive presentations on AMR and Biosecurity by videolink. Dr Alemayehu Mekonnen, the advisor to the Federal State Minister of Livestock and Fisheries in Ethiopia moderated the session.

The 3-day training workshop benefited about 30 participants working in government and private animal health livestock sectors in Ethiopia.