Workshops/Meetings : Animal Health and Welfare

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OIE Regional Workshop on Communication: the way forward
(Singapore, 26-27 October 2009)

  1. The Regional Workshop on Communication: the way forward was held in Shingapore, on 26-27 October 2009.
  2. The main objectives of the Workshop were to consider the Recommendations of the OIE Regional Seminar held in Bangkok in October 2008 and their implications for the Region and to commence the development of a regional communication strategy for Veterinary Services.  Thus this Workshop was the follow-up of the previous OIE Regional Seminar on Communication, held in Bangkok.
  3. The Workshop was attended by 38 participants from Australia, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China P.R., Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, SAR, India, Japan, Korea, R.O., Maldives, Micronesia, Fed. States of, Mongolia, Nepal, New Zealand, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka, ASEAN Secretariat, Philippines (as resource person), and OIE Asia-Pacific (Tokyo), OIE Sub-Regional Office (Bangkok).
  4. The Workshop was opened with the welcome addresses delivered by Dr Teruhide Fujita, OIE Asia-Pacific and Dr Toshiro Kawashima, President of OIE Regional Commission for Asia, Far East and Oceania, Dr Chew Siang Thai, Director General of Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) and Chief Veterinary Officer of Singapore; the Host country.
  5. Since the similar Workshop for Southeast Asia (ASEAN countries) was held in Cambodia (hereinafter called the Cambodia Workshop), last March 2009 by OIE/AusAID Programme, based in Bangkok, representatives from ASEAN countries did not attend this Singapore Workshop.  However, the major players for the Cambodia Workshop were invited and attended to report and reflect the outcomes discussed in Cambodia to this Singapore Workshop.
  6. In addition to the Plenary Sessions including the Country-Reports on Communication, participants were divided into two groups and discussed “Challenges and Opportunities of Communication for Animal Health, including purposes, visions and activities” and “Communication Goals and Strategies and Development of Road Map”, respectively.
  7. Participants in Singapore well shared information and experience of the Cambodia Workshop. At the same time, the Singapore Workshop added the new consideration to the DRAFT Conclusions and Recommendations of its Workshop, due to the socio-economic difference including literacy and government mechanisms on communication in the Sub-Regions of East Asia including P.R. China, R.O. Korea and Japan, South Asia including India and the Pacific Region including Micronesia, from ASEAN countries and taking into consideration Conclusions and Recommendations of the Cambodia Workshop.
  8. The Workshop produced two papers; namely (1) DRAFT Conclusions and Recommendations of the OIE Regional Workshop on Communication, and (2) A Draft Strategy for Animal Health Communication, which was the major basis for drafting the Conclusions and Recommendations. The draft Conclusions and Recommendations were endorsed by the Regional Commission at the 26th OIE Regional Conference for Asia, the Far East and Oceania, Shanghai, P.R.China, on 16-20 November 2009.
  9. The Workshop recommended that, for example,
    (1) the DRAFT Regional Strategy with 5 Goals* provide a framework for enhancement of communication capabilities for all countries and the regions in Asia and the Pacific,
    (2) the development of a communication action plan be considered by countries to move toward the 5 Goals articulated in the Regional Strategy,
    (3) National Veterinary Services recognize and address the increasing importance of Communication Strategies for animal disease control and prevention, in particular in cases of emerging and re-emerging diseases,
    (4) the importance of communication be one of the priorities of National Veterinary Services, particularly for disseminating information on any issue under the competence of the Veterinary Services, etc.

5 Goals*

  1. Ensuring communication strategies and approaches be built, continue to evolve, and fully integrated with policy development and programme delivery of the Veterinary Services,
  2. Improving risk communication approaches both prior to and during an emergency event,
  3. Improving and strengthening communication resourcing (including capacity and capability) and improving the quality of systems,
  4. Improving national coordination across jurisdictions, sectors and stakeholder groups,
  5. Sharing of information about internationally-relevant animal health issues (and communication approaches) within the region and globally.

(1) Conclusions and Recommendations of the OIE Regional Workshop on Communication (PDF)
(2) A Strategy for Animal Health Communication (PDF)