18 February 2011: The 19th meeting of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Regional Commission for Africa was held from 14-18 February 2011, in Kigali, Rwanda. The meeting focused on technical issues of animal disease control in Africa.

Participants discussed livestock census as a vital tool for livestock disease surveillance and control. They also considered investments needed to further improve animal disease control in Africa, recognizing that animal disease control is key to reducing poverty and safeguarding public health. Delegates agreed on the need to modernize veterinary services services, with the support of the OIE.

Items on the agenda also included an update on activities under the Global Framework for the Progressive Control of Transboundary Diseases – a joint initiative of OIE and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO) – and an overview of collaboration between the OIE and the African Union’s Interafrican Bureau for Animal Resources. [OIE Press Release]