Activities of the OIE RR ME 2013 2014 RR/SRR annual meeting Paris 22 26 /10/2013 Ghazi YEHIA Regional Representative
Summary: In 2012/2013 the RR was working on the organization of the 12 th Regional Conference for the to be held in Amman Jordan 23 26 September 2013. The FMD control pathway in the region was also a main pillar in the activities this year. Two subgroup meetings were organised in Beirut and Dubai, and a plan of action has been described in compliance with the recommendations of the global conference on FMD in Bangkok. Inter regional Seminar on RVF and trade mitigation, jointly with the Eastern African SRR has been held in Mombasa and a sub regional meeting on LSD in Larnaca, both to discuss special sanitary events that challenges the region. The RR also addressed assistance to countries requesting twinning process with parent OIE reference laboratories.
HUMAN RESOURCES OF THE RR THE REGIONAL REPRESENTATION FOR THE MIDDLE EAST OFFICES MOVED IN JUNE 2012 TO A NEW BUILDING OWNED BY THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE IN LEBANON
ACKNOWLEDGMENT THE ARRIVAL OF PROF. VINCENZO CAPORALE AS SPECIAL ADVISOR TO THE REGIONAL REPRESENTATION WAS AN ADDED VALUE TO ITS ACTIVITIES. PROF. CAPORALE HAS PARTICIPATED ACTIVELY IN THE PLANNING OF MAJOR PROGRAMMES TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE REGION. DR JOSEPH DOMENECH ALSO WAS WITH GREAT HELP TO THE RR WORK ESPECIALLY IN THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 2 FMD MEETINGS IN BEIRUT AND DUBAI AND THE LSD ONE IN LARNACA.
TECHNICAL PROGRAMME REPORT Plan of action based on Animal Health Situation Countries of the region were aware of the endemic situation of many countries in the region related to major diseases and raised several suggestions to coordinate the surveillance and control of these diseases. The priority diseases identified in the region were: FMD: A project plan for the control of FMD in the Asian countries of the Middle East has been established and presented to the RC meeting in Dubai 26 of April 2012. It includes a first phase the organization of meetings for following up with countries national plans for surveillance and control of the disease including diagnostic capabilities of their national laboratories. The project aims to assist countries to reach an intermediate target of applying to OIE for official endorsement of their surveillance programs.
Coordination time table ME POOL 1 1 2012: 18 December : Beirut Stages assessment FMD control roadmap 3 2014: February : Beirut Progress evaluation of national surveillance program Stages assessment Hot spots risk mitigation 4 2014: May/June : Paris/Cairo Progress evaluation of implementation results 5 2015: January : Beirut Stages assessment Regional harmonization trade control 6 2015: April : Bahrain ME regional conference on FMD Application for official recognition
Coordination time table ME POOL 2 1 2013: 8 April : Dubai (UAE) Stages assessment FMD control roadmap 2 2014: April: Doha Qatar Progress evaluation of national surveillance program Stages assessment Hot spots risk mitigation 3 2014: May/June : Paris Progress evaluation of implementation results 4 2015: April : Dubai (UAE) Stages assessment Regional harmonization trade control 5 2015: April : Bahrain ME regional conference on FMD Application for official recognition
TECHNICAL PROGRAMME REPORT (CNT) Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR): The disease is present in several parts of the region. It is important that countries at risk deploy control measures, such as precautions at the border, quarantine, movement controls within the country, and reinforced vaccination, to contain /prevent the introduction of the disease. The OIE RR for the will closely follow the national plans for surveillance of this disease and two sub regional meetings on PPR will be organized Feb 2014 in Beirut and Doha to review a common strategy. These two sub region meetings could be a preamble to the global conference on PPR December 2014 and for an inter regional conference to be held jointly with the RR of Africa in 2015.
BLUETONGUE & VECTOR BORNE DISEASES : The introduction of a new BT serotypes has to be addressed by Veterinary Authorities by adopting measures of Control. After the successful experience of collaboration involving Lebanon/Tunisia with the reference laboratory in Italy on BT, A regional strategy for the control of BT and other vector borne diseases ( LSD, AHS, CCHF, Q fever) beside the follow up of the RVF situation, will be a priority in 2014. An inter regional conference with RR Africa to be organized..
Equine diseases: The re emergence of Glanders in the region urged the OIE RR to organize a regional conference on Glanders in Dubai April 2012 where recommendations on a regional action has been proposed and a multiple actions for the surveillance of equine diseases and the control of the horse movement will be considered in the year to come. Training course on diagnostic of the 5 major equine diseases in collaboration with Palermo, is to be launched soon. An Inter regional conference OIE/FEI on movement of horses and quarantine procedures, in collaboration with FEI and the racing authorities, is to be hosted by UAE back to back with the Dubai world cup in march 2014.
African Horse Sickness A questionnaire was sent to member countries to apply for official recognition of historically free status from African Horse Sickness. The followings obtained the FS:. : Cyprus, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar and Turkey. Follow up to other countries on presenting their dossiers.
Strengthening Veterinary Services The OIE RC and RR will continue to work towards strengthening the technical capacities, management, legislation and the overall good governance of VS of the member countries. A serie of focal points seminars in the fields of Animal Welfare, Animal Production food Safety, Aquatic Animal Diseases, Veterinary Medicinal Products, Wildlife were and will be organised, in 2012/2013. The regional representation is providing assistance to members to request gap analysis and follow up missions to complement the findings of the PVS reports already accomplished in all countries of the middle east. In this regard, Jordan and Yemen have applied for gaps analysis, Iraq is requesting a PVS mission, Iran is requesting laboratories evaluation mission Lebanon/Italy signed a collaboration agreement.
Improving national laboratories capabilities In the, there is a lack of OIE Reference Laboratories. There are many endemic diseases in the region and Reference Laboratories would be of good support to surveillance activities. IN THE FRAMEWORK OF THE ON GOING OIE TWINNING PROJECTS WORLDWIDE, PROJECTS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED IN COUNTRIES OF THE REGION COVERING MAJOR DISEASES PREVAILING IN THE REGION BESIDE ISSUES OF GREAT CONCERNS SUCH AS FOOD SAFETY AND ANIMAL WELFARE. THE RR IS FOLLOWING ALL REQUESTS IN THIS SUBJECT IN 2012/2013. A SEMINAR FOR FOCAL POINTS IN LABORATORIES IS PROPOSED TO BE HELD IN JUST IRBID/JORDAN IN JUNE 2014. ( EVENTUALLY WITH SRR OF NORTH AFRICA).
Assistance to member countries in the twinning process Country candidate Subject Parent laboratory Actions taken UAE Brucellosis FLI Jena Germany in process Yemen RVF OVI/SA To be started Lebanon Bluetongue Theramo Final phase Oman Rabies OVI/SA To be launched KSA FMD Pirbright pending Lebanon/Syria Food Safety Theramo cc To be launched Kuwait PPR CIRAD In request Yemen Bees diseases Germany In request Iran FMD Evaluation To be confirmed Qatar/Oman Risk Analysis Italy To be launched Jordan Education(JUST RVC) UK To be started
CAMEL DISEASES WILL ALSO HAVE A SPECIAL STRATEGY IN COLLABORATION WITH THE NORTH AFRICAN COUNTRIES. THE STRATEGY WILL CONSIST ON IDENTIFICATION OF THE DISEASES PREVAILING IN THE REGION WITH THE COOPERATION OF THE OIE COLLABORATING CENTRE AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A REGIONAL LAB ON THESE DISEASES IN A GCC COUNTRY WILL BE MORE THAN NEEDED. THE RR WILL PROPOSE HOLDING A REGIONAL CONFERENCE TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE. OMAN PROPOSED TO HOST THIS CONFERENCE IN NOVEMBER/DECEMBER2014.
Animal Welfare Strategy In order to reach the objective of a Regional Animal Welfare Strategy, it was suggested that the Regional Commission has discussions on the different components of a plan to address animal welfare needs in the Region. A regional working group has been formed and is to propose a regional strategy to be presented and discussed during a regional meeting in 2014. HRH Princess Alia Bint El Hussein accepted to patron the activities of the working group. The first meeting will be held in Amman in March 2014
Assistance to member countries
Activity ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE REPRESENTATION (RR) IN 2012/ 2013 Date and Venue Regional Conference on Glanders Dubai, UAE, 23 25 April 2012 GF TADs RSC for the ME, Dubai, UAE, 26 April 2012 Inter regional conference on RVF OIE focal points seminar on animal welfare Mombasa, 13 15 Nov 2012 Beirut 4 6 Dec 2012
ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT BY THE REPRESENTATION (RR) IN 2012/ 2013 Activity Sub regional FMD PCP for East Mediterranean Sub regional OIE meeting on LSD and other vector borne diseases. Sub regional FMD progressive pathway for GCC + Yemen Date and Venue Beirut 18 December 2012 Larnaca 28 February 2013 Dubai 8 April 2013
ACTIVITIES TO BE CARRIED OUT BY THE REPRESENTATION (RR) IN 2013 Activity Date and Venue Venue Focal Point Seminar on Aquatic Animal Diseases 12 Regional Conference Focal Point Seminar on Veterinary Medicinal Products Focal Point Seminar on Wildlife 13 15 August 2013, Byblos (Lebanon), Amman (Jordan), 23 26 September 2013 Algiers (Algeria), 1 3 October 2013 Gaborone, 13 15 November 2013
Provisions for 2014 Activity Focal Point Seminar on Animal Production Food Safety Sub Regional meeting on PPR and FMD Date and Venue Abu Dhabi, January 14 16,2014 Beirut, 13 14 February 2014 Inter regional seminar on horse movement Sub Regional meeting on PPR and FMD Dubai, 23 25 March 2014 Doha, 16 17February 2014
. Activity Date and Venue Venue Regional seminar on camel diseases Nov/December 2014 Muscat Oman Regional Conference on BT and VBD Focal Point Seminar On laboratories Beirut Lebanon August 2014 Irbid, Jordan September 2014 Focal Point Seminar for Animal Welfare Amman Jordan March 2014
Translated Documents مطبوعات منظمة الصحة الحيوانية (OIE) للعام 2013 Periodicals 03 International Standards 12 Periodicals 26 Other periodicals 29 Technical series 33 Thematic Publications 44 Proceedings 63 Forthcoming titles 65-79 List and prices النشرات الدورية المعايير الدولية النشرات الدورية مجالت أخرى الدراسات الفنية أبحاث ذات الموضوع الواحد دراسات مقاالت قيد التحضير األسعار والتوزيع والشراء إضغط ھنا الفھرس
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CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS 2012/2013 VIEWED MORE INVOLVEMENT OF MEMBER COUNTRIES IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE REGIONAL REPRESENTATION. THE RC BUREAU FELT MORE CONCERNED TO FIND FUNDING SUPPORT FROM POTENTIAL REGIONAL DONORS TO IMPLEMENT SEVERAL PROJECTS MENTIONED IN THE ACTION PLAN, MAINLY: THE CONTROL AND SURVEILLANCE OF FMD PLAN IS IN PROGRESS IN THE REGION WITH A AN INTERMEDIATE GOAL TO APPLY FOR OFFICIAL RECOGNITION OF CONTROL PROGRAMS BEFORE 2017. OTHER PROJECTS COVERING SURVEILLANCE AND CONTROL OF MAJOR ANIMAL DISEASES IN THE REGION RVF, BRUCELLOSIS, PPR, EQUINE AND CAMEL DISEASES HAVE BEEN APPROACHED IN THE ACTIVITIES OF THE RR FOR THIS YEAR AND THE YEARS TO COME. NAMELY The OIE RR will also continue to work towards strengthening the technical capacities, management, legislation and the overall good governance of Veterinary Services of the Member Countries, it will continue to support and assist delegates and focal points in their different field activities.