FAO supports efforts to build the diagnostic capacity of national veterinary laboratories in Ghana
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) strengthened veterinary laboratories capacities across Ghana by donating laboratory equipment, reagents, and other consumables.
The gesture is in support of the government’s efforts to build the diagnostic capacity of national veterinary laboratories across the country to detect and report transboundary animal diseases, which have serious public health implications in the country.
The items range from Compound Binocular Microscope to Fluorescence Microscope, and Stereo Dissecting Microscope. Materials such as Analytical balance, 610 g capacity, 0.01 g readability, Hematocrit Centrifuge, Laboratory Oven were also provided. The rest are Rose Bengal Rapid Slide Agglutination Antigen, One-step Rabies Antigen Test, and Rift Valley Fever Capture ELISA kit, Gram Staining Kit, Blank Antimicrobial Susceptibility Disks, etc.
The procurement of these equipment was facilitated under the United States Government funded FAO Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) programme in 21 countries in Asia and Africa, including Ghana. The support for Ghana under this project is focused on four Action Packages of the GHSA, namely Prevention and Control of Zoonotic Diseases (ZD), Improving Biosecurity and Biosafety (BB), Strengthening National Laboratory System (LS) and Enhancing capacity of the Veterinary Workforce Development (WD).
The FAO is committed to supporting a One Health policy and its implementation in the country so that the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, the Ministry of Environment, Science and Innovations, the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources and the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development are to work more closely to preserve health for all Ghanaians, food and nutritional security and livelihoods of most vulnerable groups in the country.
At a ceremony to hand the equipment to the Ministry of Agriculture, the FAO Representative to Ghana and Regional Programme Leader for Africa, Dr. Abebe Haile-Gabriel, was of the conviction that by rolling out this program, FAO is anticipating a significant improvement of the animal health service delivery system in Ghana that will enhance food security, food safety, secure livelihoods and increased household incomes of livestock producers, and protect public health.
The FAO Representative added, “Under this program, FAO has also been investing in improvement of food safety and food security of the Ghanaians through a comprehensive training program for meat inspectors and staff of the Food and Drug Authority throughout the country to ensure the safety of meat and other animal products consumed”.
The Minister of State at the Ministry of Food Agriculture, Dr. Nurah Gyiele, receiving the items on behalf of the Minister, expressed gratitude and assured the FAO of putting the equipment to good use and putting Ghana at the top of the gender in the control of animal diseases in Africa.