FAO in Egypt

OH_TAG meeting addresses the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes for both people and animals

FAO, WHO, MOHP, GOVS, AHRI shared information on the current situation of COVID-19 and endemic zoonotic diseases,

27/10/2020

Cairo, Egypt - Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Disease (ECTAD) of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO-Egypt) has organized today the second meeting in 2020 for The One Health Technical Advisory Group (OH_TAG) to address a shared health concern together, with the ultimate goal of achieving optimal health outcomes for both people and animals.

The main topics discussed during the meeting included COVID-19, Avian Influenza and other endemic diseases considering the winter season.

A total of 37 participants from General Organization for Veterinary Services (GOVS), National Laboratory for Quality Control of Poultry Production (NLQP), Animal Health Research Institute (AHRI), Ministry of Health and Population (MOHP), Ministry of Environment (MOE), Veterinary faculty of Cairo University, WHO Egypt and FAO - ECTAD EGYPT have attended the meeting.

The meeting enabled to discuss and share information on the current situation of COVID-19 globally, regionally and at national level. In addition, the participants reviewed and discussed the current situation of endemic zoonotic diseases such as Avian Influenza, Rabies, and Brucellosis; and shared information on ongoing actions to prevent, detect and control these diseases.

Moreover, FAO’s planned activities to strengthen multi-sectoral collaboration were presented, discussed and endorsed by the meeting.

“OH-TAG meeting comes at a critical period imposed on the world as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, which brings the necessity to define the requirements for how to manage the available resources and maximize their utilization in light of the many global environmental changes that are controlling changing the epidemiological maps of many diseases”. Dr. Abdul Hakim Ali, Chairman of the General Organization for Veterinary Services, said.

“There are efforts to combat rabies under the umbrella of a comprehensive plan and OH approach. In this regard, GOVS is currently working with MOH in order to accelerate the adoption of the national strategy to combat disease while expanding the use of systems that achieve the principle of animal welfare”. Ali added

“OH coordination meetings provide important platforms to exchange information on current epidemiological status of PZDs including COVID-19, discuss and identify the key challenges and needed actions and recommendations to effectively address PZDs and AMR in Egypt” said Toni Ettel, program coordinator at FAO Egypt.

"Joint Risk Assessment sustainability need to be assured in the country by establishment of a permanent JRA steering Committee, and multi-sectoral jointly coordinated action to control AMR is required to reach the national plan goal,” said Dr. Hanaa Abu El-Sood AbdElaziz, DG of Epidemiology& Surveillance Dep., MOHP.

The platform also encouraged the establishment of Egypt Centers for Disease control and prevention (Egypt CDC) with assistance from international organizations, and invited to strengthen Influenza surveillance in both Animal and Human especially with the start of the current season.

On his part, the representative of MOE, Ayman Hamada cherished the OH approach and the presence of OH-TAG as a good opportunity for multi-sectoral collaboration and emphasizes the role of MOE to be part of this stating all challenges that the environment face and results in emerging diseases and other disaster that affects the public health.

The One Health Technical Advisory Group (OH_TAG) was established in 2017 to facilitate the collaboration among sectors and serve as a platform for sharing information and best practices on current and new events of zoonotic diseases as well as identify joint/multi-sectoral actions that aim to detect and mitigate the risk of zoonotic diseases and AMR.

It is worth noting that ECTAD programs and activities in Egypt are funded by The United States Agency for International Development (USAID).