Mbabane – Eswatini has been commended for its triumph on Foot and Mouth Diseases (FMD) and other transboundary animal diseases.
This transpired at the 12th Regional Steering Committee Meeting of the Global Framework for the Progressive Control Transboundary Animal Diseases (GF-TADs). The meeting was held on Tuesday at The Hilton Garden Inn, Mbabane.
The recognition came from experts around the globe who had come to share ideas and strategies on combating transboundary animal diseases. The meeting aimed at addressing threatened food security, livelihoods and trade.
In his opening remarks of the nations under the African Union blog, the Minister of Agriculture, Mandla Tshawuka, while receiving on behalf of the nation the praise, noted that the country remained free from animal diseases such as foot and mouth, Peste des Ruminants (PPR), and avian influenza.
“It pleases me to say Eswatini is recognized by WOAH as free from diseases without vaccination,” Tshawuka said.
The minister said the recognition safeguards the country’s markets and productivity of animals.
He then expressed his gratitude to the international bodies, including the GF-TADs, Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), and World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), stating that they play a very vital role in helping the country reach its goals.
The Minister then tasked the experts, who among them were animal health professionals, to inquire into the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and determine how it can be leveraged in terms of disease control.
“When disease outbreaks occur, borders are closed,” he said, adding that the challenge is to develop mechanisms that allow for continued trade while minimizing the risk of disease transmission.
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