Workshop on WOAH Standards for official recognition of PPR-free status conducted in Namibia

Participants engaged in group work. Picture © T. Tenzin (woah) 2025

A three-day training workshop on WOAH Standards for Official Recognition of PPR Free Status was conducted successfully in Windhoek, Namibia from 12-14 May 2025. A total of 23 participants from the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) of Namibia, and a PPR contact point each from the Veterinary Services of Angola, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia attended the training.

The training was facilitated by PPR Expert Dr Henry Wamwayi from Nairobi, Kenya and was organised by the Directorate of Veterinary Services (DVS) of Namibia and WOAH through the financial support from the BMZ-OHRT Project (Germany).

The main objective of the training was:

To strengthen the capacity of key staff of the Directorate of Veterinary Services to prepare applications to WOAH for the official recognition of disease status with specific reference to Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR).

The specific objectives of the training were:

To enhance the awareness, knowledge and understanding of the personnel on the WOAH Standard operating procedures (SOPs), guidelines and statutory requirements for submission, evaluation and approval or non-approval of an application for disease free status recognition.
To enhance the knowledge and understanding by the national PPR Task-force Members, of the WOAH guidelines, requirements and prescribed template for preparation of a dossier for WOAH official recognition of PPR free status.
To assemble available data and documentation in Namibia and determine gaps and strategies for collecting missing data and documentation to support dossier preparation.

In the course of the training programme, participants were acquainted with the SOPs, timelines, guidelines, specific requirements, design of surveillance activities, procedures for the preparation and submission of dossiers to WOAH for evaluation of the animal health status of Members, with special reference to the recognition of PPR free status.

The participants assessed the PPR status in their countries, identified gaps and prepared an action plan to implement the shortcomings.

Namibia has a WOAH recognised PPR free zone south of the veterinary cordon fence, whereas the northern part is historically free from PPR. Namibia’s neighbours are either historically free from PPR or have a WOAH recognised PPR free status. Those Members that are historically free from PPR are preparing to submit a dossier for PPR free status.