Workshops/Meetings : GF-TADs

FAO/OIE Sub-Regional Meeting of GF-TADs for SPC Region in collaboration with SPC Secretariat
(Nadi, Fuji, 25-26 June 2009)

1. The FAO/OIE Sub-Regional Meeting of GF-TADs was organised in Nadi, Fiji on 25 – 26 June  2009, which was attended by 45 participants from SPC Member Countries (American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI), Cook Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Fiji, French Polynesia, Kiribati, Marshall Islands, Nauru, New Caledonia, Niue, Papua New Guinea, Palau, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tokelau, Tonga, Tuvalu, Vanuatu, and Australia, Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, FAO (Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok), Secretariat of SPC, and  OIE (Asia-Pacific, Tokyo; Permanent Secretariat for the Regional Steering Committee of GF-TADs).
2. This Meeting was held in accordance to the recommendation of the Second Regional Steering Committee (RSC) in Bangkok, 2007 which suggested that each Sub-regional organisation should organize their meeting to develop short- and long-term strategies for the prevention and control of TADs.
3. The Meeting was chaired by Dr E. Ioanis (from CNMI), the Chairman of PHOVAPS.
4. In the opening session, Dr T. Fujita, Permanent Secretariat for the Regional Steering Committee of GF-TADs, delivered the welcome remark and explained the concept of the meeting. Then, the opening addresses were made by Dr S. Morzaria, Regional manager of FAO ECTAD in Bangkok and Dr Ken Cokanasiga, Advisor to Animal Health and Production Services in SPC Secretariat in Suva, Fuji.  They all welcomed the participants and highlighted the importance of transboundary animal diseases (TADs) control and prevention in this Sub-Region.
5. In the plenary session, the meeting reviewed achievements of GF-TADs and Progress of activities in the Region on GF-TADs. Dr T. Fujita reported on progress of GF-TADs made since the Second Regional Steering Committee Meeting.   Dr S. Morzaria also reported on the FAO/OIE activities and complementarities regarding TADs. Dr I. Shimohira and Dr C. Benigno, FAO Bangkok, made the joint report on the summary of progress activities in Asian and the Pacific Region on TADs control by OIE and FAO.
6. The Meeting also discussed the current situation and control activities of TADs in the Sub-Region based on the presentation from  7 selected member countries in SPC, namely Fuji, New Caledonia, PNG, FSM, Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu.  It was confirmed that there are some constraints of the TADs control as follows,

-  low priority for the livestock development
-  limited resources allocation
-  lack of the veterinarians and para-vet professionals
-  low quality of laboratory infrastructures.

7. The following are major recommendations made by the Sub-Regional meeting.
1. The following two types of diseases should be prioritized and targeted to focus animal health activities on disease prevention and control.
1. Exotic diseases such as HPAI, Newcastle Disease, CSF, FMD, Bluetongue, PPR, Rabies,
2. Zoonotic endemic diseases such as Brucellosis, leptospirosis and Bovine Tuberculosis,
2. Attention should be paid to Surveillance, which includes the following, for future actions to be taken on disease prevention and control.
1. Base line surveillance systems,
2. Information on livestock sector and socio-economic analysis.
3. Laboratory capacity building is the essential part for quick and accurate diagnosis and for surveillance and quick response for disease control. The following should be taken into account for strengthening laboratory capacity.
1. Currently laboratory capacity is still rudimentary in the region. Majority of the countries do not even have basic national laboratory capability.
2. Human health capacity is at a higher level in comparison with veterinary side capacity, however, veterinary samples cannot be tested in human laboratories.
3. Laboratory capacity in veterinary services at both national and regional levels, is indispensable and should be strengthened for effective disease prevention and control.
4. Strengthening laboratory capacity includes laboratory buildings (including construction and renovations of laboratories and procurement of laboratory equipment).
5. The setting up of multiple technologies should be progressively developed; e.g. basic laboratory, microscopy, serological techniques.
6. The Standard of Procedures (SOPs) should be developed for collection and shipping of samples and diagnosis.
4. SPC has identified three Sub-Regional laboratories in Guam, Fiji and Papua New Guinea.   Priorities are to strengthen these Sub-Laboratories to have rapid diagnostic capacities. These are level 2 laboratories for Sub-Regional activities of SPC (their categorization with level 1 at a national level to level 3 at the regional level of Asia and the Pacific), focussing on HPAI, but the technology will not be limited to serology but expanded to PCR.
5. Access to external Reference Laboratories is normally through USA, Australia, France, and New Zealand.
6. The Regional Support Unit (RSU) under GF-TADs is to be hosted by SPC (animal production and health team), Suva, Fiji, and the Epidemiological Unit is to be attached to the RSU and linked to national focal points as well as to Australia, France and New Zealand and USA expertise.
7. Capacity building in range of areas for disease prevention and control is required, in particular for the following areas.
1. Para-veterinarians to be trained by SPC, and institutionalization where possible,

-  Development of para-vet modules,
-  Introductory level training and then specialised training including on exotic diseases.

2. Training to be extended to general laboratory technicians and also targeted training on exotic diseases,
3. Field epidemiology,
4. Biosecurity training for quarantine officers,
5. Communication training (for pubic awareness, risk communication and crisis communication, etc.),
6. Good livestock production practices (biosecurity) and animal welfare,
7. Regional level capacity at SPC for delivery training, regional coordination and regional rapid response for small islands.
8. Policy and Legislation should be strengthened on; e.g. compensation, border control (biosecurity),  intersectoral coordination,  emergency management and vaccination.
9. Regional Coordination should be focused on;
1. Harmonization of various aspects of disease control,
2. Resource mobilisation for the region.
10. Monitoring and evaluation every 2 years is recommended for effective and efficient achievement.
8. The meeting recognized and appreciated the efforts of FAO and OIE in fostering regional cooperation and collaboration for improved control of TADs in SPC countries.

 

(Conclusions and Recommendations (PDF))