Field epidemiology graduates to boost fight against animal diseases

KAMPALA-The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations [FAO] recently passed out the third cohort of veterinarians who successfully completed the In-Service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training [ISAVET] to fight animal diseases. This cohort of 40 graduates brings to 87, the total number of professionals trained under ISAVET.

The four-months training programme aims to empower veterinary professionals as the first line of defence, through the OneHealth approach, to better their preparedness, detection and rapid response to animal diseases including transboundary, endemic, emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases.

Zoonotic diseases affect both animals and humans and their occurrence in Africa generally and in Uganda particular, is a major concern for socio-economic development. Using the One Health approach, therefore, to address the challenge and the human, animal and environment interfaces is essential to managing zoonoses. The ISAVET programme fosters trainees’ transferable and critical-thinking skills in the veterinary workforce.

Funded by the United States Agency for International Development [USAID], ISAVET was first launched in Africa in 2018, as a pilot programme in Uganda. The first cohort had 29 trainees from across Africa. ISAVET graduates are field-level veterinarians or animal health technicians actively involved in investigating animal diseases and surveillance, from various districts and organisations across the country.

The graduation ceremony, held at the Civil Service Training Institute in Jinja City, was presided over by Dr. Anna Rose Ademun Okurut- Chief Veterinary Officer at the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries [MAAIF]. Ademun, who represented the MAAIF Permanent Secretary- Maj. Gen. David Kasura Kyomukama.

In his remarks, Maj. Gen. Kyomukama noted that the training directly contributes to the Ministry’s mission, by building capacity of the animal health workforce to effectively contribute to animal production and productivity, animal and public health and welfare through prevention and control of animal diseases.

“Although the ISAVET programme has so far trained 87 personnel, the need for frontline animal health workers remains huge. Uganda has about 2100 sub-counties and we have a target for one ISAVET trained professional per sub-county. To meet this demand and cover the gaps, we need more advocacy, more funding and strategic plans,” he said.

He congratulated the 40 trainees for acquiring key competencies and skills, at a time when the whole world is faced with numerous unprecedented threats of emerging and re-emerging infections, 75 percent of which are of animal origin.

“I am optimistic that with this additional workforce, Uganda is ensured of early disease detection and successful management of zoonotic diseases. This will benefit livestock owners, their communities, livestock value chain actors and the country at large, he added.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Dr Ademun affirmed MAAIF’s commitment towards the institutionalisation of the ISAVET programme in Uganda.

While speaking at the ceremony, Priya Gujadhur- FAO Deputy Representative in Uganda, noted that strengthening capacity for disease control, especially of zoonotic diseases, is critical to reducing human disease, safeguarding lives and livelihoods and fostering food security for all – all at the core of FAO’s work.

“Through the ISAVET programme, we have registered achievements in improved skills and knowledge in epidemiology, increased understanding of Trans-boundary Animal Diseases, emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases and zoonotic threats at local levels, and enhanced disease surveillance, reporting and early response in areas where ISAVET trainees are deployed,” she said.

She noted that the ISAVET training is essential to the country, in light of the high costs of managing zoonotic diseases. According to Gujadhur, the direct cost of zoonotic diseases at global level, over the last decade, is estimated to be more than US$ 20 billion, with over US$ 200 billion indirect losses to affected economies as a whole. The impact of disease is even much greater due to loss of lives, reduced opportunities, livelihoods and social welfare. Lack of appropriate or timely action can amplify loss of life and costs of control, especially of zoonotic diseases.

She appealed to the Government of Uganda to extend ISAVET training to every district and hoped that the “graduates will form part of the much needed positive change makers committed  to improving the performance of the animal health delivery system in the country.”

Dr Sarah Peige- USAID’s Global Health Security Agenda Advisor in Uganda, congratulated the trainees and appealed to them to apply the new skills and knowledge immediately, maintaining the professional networks they have established through the programme.

“It is an honour for USAID to support the third and largest cohort of trainees in the ISAVET programme. Uganda is looking to these trainees to lead One Health activities in their districts to prepare for, prevent, detect, and respond to zoonotic disease threats,” she said.

Accelerating progress towards attainment of the global health security agenda [GHSA]

In 2022, ISAVET has directly supported 17 countries in Africa to roll out the Frontline ISAVET Training Programme. Uganda has so far successfully graduated 87 ISAVET trainees, through FAO’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Disease [ECTAD].

The trainees underwent a formal four-week training and a three-month field research project period, guided by purposefully selected mentors. The learning by-doing approach empowers the trainees to serve as front-line fighters against animal diseases, contribute to advancing attainment of GHSA and provide public health services while learning to collect, analyse and use data to prioritize animal health issues and inform policy.

Dr Asiimwe Taddeo Barwogeza, one of the ISAVET graduates and Ntoroko district veterinary officer, said the training would help him work and serve differently.

“Following the training, I have introduced weekly disease surveillance reporting on epidemiological standards”, he said. “I have cascaded the knowledge and skills to all district animal health workers, especially on reporting and risk communication, ensuring weekly analysis and feedback. I feel confident as in-charge and head of disease surveillance aspects in the district, thanks to FAO ISAVET training,” he added.

However, despite FAO’s intervention through ISAVET, and other national efforts, Uganda still has challenges in disease detection and response systems that make the country vulnerable to animal health threats like diseases. To help bridge these gaps, FAO and its partners continue to work to create a pathway to improve Uganda’s epidemiology field capacity to protect and promote the health of its livelihoods.

https://thecooperator.news/kapelebyong-district-demands-for-more-foot-and-mouth-disease-vaccines/

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