OIE training of Focal Points for Veterinary Products (cycle III) Sub-saharan Africa

The seminar was held at the Centro Internacional de Conferências Joaquim Chissano and attended by a total of 28 FP from Benin, Botswana, Burundi, Burkina Faso, Cameroun, Congo, DRC, Djibouti, Cote d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Liberia, Mali, Madagascar, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Somalia, Soudan, South Africa, South Soudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia and Zimbabwe as well as by 8 observers from the host country.

The seminar was officially opened by Mr Antonio Limbau, the Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Mozambique. H.E. indicated that the Seminar on Veterinary Products came at a time when Mozambique is chairing the CPLP (Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries, most of which are in Africa ) which theme is “Food Security”. He noted the fact that food security cannot be achieved without food safety. H.E. Deputy Minister also expressed his expectations that the seminar in its deliberations would contribute towards elimination of uncontrolled use of veterinary products with emphasis on antimicrobials in order to reduce the negative impact in animals and in public health, improving safety of products of animal origin and contributing to food security. He informed delegates that in Mozambique there is no pharmaceutical industry so far but due to current policies that foresee increases in livestock production, increase in the use of veterinary products it is also expected. Therefore there is a need for structuring the registration and use of Veterinary Products in accordance with international standards and guidelines.

Eleven out of the 28 participants in this training had also attended previous seminars. This facilitated the common work discussions on the ways to strengthen the skills in the Veterinary Products subject among FP of participating Member Countries in Africa. The group could actively interact during discussions in working groups and plenary sessions. Two group work sessions were convened on validation, registration and marketing authorisation of the diagnostic kits; and also on approval, quality control and usage of anti-parasitic drugs. In both exercises country experiences were exchanged. The group work sessions were facilitated by Collaborating Centres, OIE staff and external experts. The seminar attendance from the host country included operators in the area of import and distribution of VMP from public and private sectors.

A visit was made to MEDIMOC a public company which staff in the import of both human and veterinary medicinal products. Its operations are subdivided and there is different management for human and veterinary products.

All pictures © F. Senete (Centro de Documentação Agrária) 2013, except where mentioned otherwise