PARIS, May 18, 2026 — Ministers and senior government representatives from around the world have endorsed a landmark Ministerial Statement at the 93rd General Session of the World Organisation for Animal Health [WOAH], calling for urgent global investment in animal health systems amid growing biological threats, climate pressures and rising pandemic risks.
The high-level political commitment comes as WOAH’s latest State of the World’s Animal Health report warns that animal health receives as little as 0.6 per cent of global health spending, despite mounting disease crises and escalating risks to food systems, economies and public health worldwide.
Against this backdrop, 17 ministers issued a united call to place animal health and welfare at the centre of global health security, economic resilience and sustainable development strategies.
“Animal health and welfare are no longer sectoral issues,” the ministers declared in the statement. “They are fundamental to food and nutrition security, economic stability, safe trade, poverty reduction, and the prevention of health crises at the human–animal–environment interface.”
The declaration sends a strong political signal that investment in veterinary services, disease prevention and animal vaccination must become a global priority under the One Health agenda.
The ministers warned that underfunded animal health systems — of which veterinary services are a core component — are being tasked with expanding responsibilities despite insufficient and unpredictable resources. This, they cautioned, weakens the world’s ability to prevent and respond to animal disease outbreaks and zoonotic spillover events.
They stressed that strong animal health systems are essential not only for preventing transboundary animal diseases and future pandemics, but also for safeguarding trade, protecting livelihoods, strengthening food systems and supporting environmental sustainability.
The statement was endorsed by the following ministers and senior officials:
Annie Genevard, Minister of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty of France; Wael bin Nasser Al Mubarak, Minister of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture of Bahrain; Edwin Gorataone Dikoloti, Minister of Lands and Agriculture of Botswana; Sidi Tiemoko Touré, Minister of Animal and Fisheries Resources of Côte d’Ivoire; Dr Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak Al Shamsi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment of the United Arab Emirates; Luis Planas Puchades, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food of Spain; and Mandla Tshawuka, Minister of Agriculture of Eswatini.
Others are David Songulashvili, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia; Félix Lamah, Minister of Livestock of Guinea; Mustapha Zulfikar, Minister of Agriculture of Guyana; Saeb Khresat, Minister of Agriculture of Jordan; Aidarbek Saparov, Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan; Riana Nantenaina Randriamonjenahary, Minister of Livestock of Madagascar; Idi Muktar Maiha, Minister of Livestock Development of Nigeria; and Bright Kanyontore Rwamirama, Minister of State for Animal Industry of Uganda among several others.
https://thecooperator.news/maaif-to-vaccinate-44mln-animals-in-january-to-curb-spread-of-fmd/
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