Hanoi, Viet Nam. Timely and accurate animal disease information is crucial for making informed decisions that can help to protect animal and human health, sustaining farmers’ livelihood, ensuring food security, safety and promoting trade.

To achieve such goal, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD), the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations Viet Nam and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) together launched the Viet Nam Animal Health Information System (VAHIS) on 28 August in Ha Noi.

VAHIS is an on-line animal diseases reporting system which enables faster and more accurate flow of disease information to decision makers. It replaces the current paper-based reporting system and allow real-time analysis of animal diseases situation. VAHIS connects animal disease information from communal, provincial and regional animal health authorities to decision makers.

 “While launching VAHIS is a very important milestone, it is of course not sufficient. VAHIS success can only be achieved with strong commitment and effective implementation of the circulars and guidance.” said by Mr Kamal Maholtra, the UN Resident Coordinator and the FAO Representative ad interim in Viet Nam.

The system plays an important role in supporting surveillance activities, analysis and reporting of animal disease situations and facilitating responses to animal diseases outbreaks including those transmittable to human.

“FAO Viet Nam would like to thank Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, provincial Departments of Agriculture and Rural Development and sub-departments of Livestock and Animal Health for their continued commitment to support VAHIS implementation nationwide.” added by Mr Maholtra.

Effective VAHIS implementation will minimize economic loss and build trust in Viet Nam’s livestock products with both domestic and global consumers in the long run.