The OIE Regional Commission for the Americas discussed the role and preparedness of national veterinary services in disaster management, and means to support the establishment of regional animal health networks.
The recommendations adopted on these and other issues will be submitted for final endorsement at the OIE General Session in May 2013.
29 November 2012: The 21st Conference of the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Regional Commission for the Americas considered, among other issues, the role that national veterinary services play in managing disease outbreaks and other risks to animal welfare and animal health in situations of exceptional climatic events or disasters of other origins.
Participants in the conference, which convened from 26-29 November 2012, in Barbados, highlighted the need for early warning and rapid response to biological risks during these events, and ways to ensure greater involvement of veterinary services and to improve their response capacity. Member States asked OIE to support such efforts through regional conferences and workshops and specialized publications on building expertise of veterinary services in the area of risk reduction and management during disasters.
The meeting also considered measures to overcome challenges in the establishment of regional animal health networks, including: giving a legal framework to a network; concluding formal cooperation agreements with international organisations; encouraging synergies with animal health projects conducted in the region; and promoting collaboration between research, surveillance and capacity building.
Participants adopted a number of recommendations on these and other issues, which will be submitted for final endorsement at the next OIE General Session, to be held in May 2013. [OIE Press Release]