FAO Representative handing over the equipment

As part of effort to combat and reduce the burden Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) using a One Health approach, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has donated a set of laboratory equipment and consumables to the Revolutionary Government of Zanzibar in the United Republic of Tanzania (URT) for disease diagnosis and AMR surveillance.

The equipment were handed over through the Zanzibar Central Veterinary Laboratory (Unguja and Pemba) under the Ministry of Agriculture, Natural Resources, Livestock and Fisheries.

Speaking at the handing over ceremony in Unguja, Zanzibar FAO Representative in Tanzania, Fred Kafeero, said that the donated items were aimed at improving early detection and isolation of bacterial pathogens, conducting antimicrobial susceptibility tests in livestock and wildlife with resultant effect of reducing the burden of AMR in humans, animal and the environment.

“This is part of our joint efforts to combat AMR in the country. We’re working with Ministries responsible for livestock development in Tanzania in implementing the Fleming Fund 2 (FF2) project to combat antimicrobial resistance using the One Health approach,” he said.

FAO's contribution to animal health and food safety

Giving background of FAO’s support in URT particularly the contribution to animal health and food safety, Mr. Kafeero mentioned the development of the National Action and Surveillance Plans on AMR through the One Health approach; the situational analysis conducted on AMR and Antimicrobial Use (AMU) in the food and agriculture sectors; and the capacity assessment of selected national laboratories using the Assessment Tool for Laboratory and AMR Surveillance Systems (ATLASS).  .

He also said that FAO has trained the media and journalists to raise public awareness on AMR/AMU,, supported the review of legislation, policies and guidelines relating to AMU/AMR in the food and agriculture sectors, and hosted a regional meeting in Dar es Salaam for the Southern African countries for sharing progress on AMR interventions in countries.

 He concluded by pledging continued support to the Governments of Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland in terms of target priority zoonotic diseases, upgrade of laboratories, investigation of unusual outbreaks, support for “One Health initiatives, and facilitation of antimicrobial resistance activities.

He thanked the Department of Health, United Kingdom, the Fleming Fund 2 (FF2)  FAO supports countries to strengthen their capacity to combat the threat of antimicrobials in animal health and food systems including the ecosystem.

On his side, the Zanzibar Minister of Agriculture, Natural Resources, Livestock and Fisheries, Hamad Rashid Hamad, appreciated FAO’s support.

“This support has come at the right time and the Zanzibar Government hopes that it will help a great deal in addressing challenges facing livestock sector,” he said and called upon FAO to provide more support in areas of capacity building in order to effectively manage human, animal and environmental health in the isles.

Implementation of the Fleming Fund 2 in the United Republic of Tanzania

The Fleming Fund 2 ‘Engaging the Food and Agriculture sectors in Sub-Saharan Africa and South and South-East Asia in the Global Efforts to Combat Antimicrobial Resistance Using One Health Approach’ is being implemented URT by FAO.

AMR particularly antibiotic resistance is one of the most serious global threats to human health. It is a natural phenomenon, which is often accelerated by the overuse of antimicrobials in humans and animals, and complicated by poor practices of disease prevention and misuse of medications, lack of informed choice for treatment and poor regulations or enforcement thereof.

AMR has already reached proportionally dangerous situations particularly in the developing countries of the world including the URT. To combat the threats of AMR in URT, the FF2 was launched in URT in 2017 and has achieved some milestones already (as outlined above). 

The United Republic of Tanzania (including Zanzibar) had earlier carried out Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) Joint External Evaluation (JEE) in February 2016 and April 2017 using the International Health Regulations (2005) tool to establish the county’s ability to prevent, detect and respond to public health events including antimicrobial resistance among others.

Results of capacity assessment revealed that the current capacity for antimicrobial surveillance and diagnosis in Zanzibar and mainland laboratory and veterinary services is very basic calling for an urgent need for improvement. This delivery is therefore timely to meet the challenges of AMR in animal health and the environment in the URT.