Al Moudadi aired this appeal before delegates of the 10th conference of the OIE Regional Commission for the Middle East yesterday at the Grand Regency Hotel citing the importance of cooperation between countries of the region with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) to address these biological hazards.
“The nature and the rapid spread of epidemic animal diseases particularly trans-boundary animal diseases requires regional and international cooperation to control and eradicate these biological hazards,” Al Moudadi pointed out in his speech during the opening ceremonies of the conference.
Dr Kassem Nasser Al Qahtani, OIE Delegate of Qatar and President of OIE Regional Commission for Middle East, also shared the same views as he said that experience concerning worldwide spread of animal epizootics confirmed the importance of cooperation and coordination between different countries and international organisations.
“The spread if animal epidemics lately has a great impact to international trade and global economy since it is considered as one of the main obstacles for the development of food security program in our countries,” Al Qahtani said. Al Qahtani noted that Qatar has been in the forefront in setting strategic plans against the spread of animal disease with the support of veterinary services, establishment of veterinary centers and availability of medicines and vaccines.
For his part, Dr Bernard Vallat, OIE Director General, admitted that foot and mouth disease (FMD) still causes serious problems in animal production in the region that a suitable regional strategy should be further developed and implemented. Vallat also pointed out that coordinated and harmonised actions for the control of Brucellosis is among the sensitive point of discussion during the three-day conference since such disease is related both to animal and public health.
He however, cited governments in the region have been active on animal health certification and trade in cooperation with African organisations and countries for strategies and requirements that try to allow a fluent and safe importation of animals and products.