Introduction
The SMPAH joint national training workshop for frontline animal health workers from border entry points in Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland on disease surveillance, disease control and disease reporting was held in Djibouti City from 20th to 22nd August 2015. The main aim of the training was to equip frontline animal health workers from cross border areas in Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland with sufficient knowledge and skills on diseases surveillance, control and reporting in order to strengthen active surveillance. This would in-turn enhance ecosystem harmonization and coordination of veterinary activities between Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland in cross border areas. A total of 41 participants drawn from Djibouti (15), Somaliland (9), Puntland (15) and AU-IBAR (2) attended the training workshop.
In his remarks, Dr Joseph Magona, on behalf of the Director, AU-IBAR, Prof. Ahmed Elsawalhy, pointed out that the Standard Methods and Procedures in Animal Health (SMP-AH) project largely supports harmonization and coordination of control of trade-related transboundary animal diseases. He further reminded participants that strengthening active surveillance in cross-border areas in the Somali Ecosystem was identified as key during the cross-border harmonization meeting for Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia held at Dire Dawa in Ethiopia from 8th to 10th December 2014. This, he said, was the genesis for the training for frontline animal health workers from cross border areas on diseases surveillance, disease control and disease reporting with PPR, CCPP, CBPP, Camelpox, Sheep and goat pox and FMD identified as priority diseases to be addressed in the Somali ecosystem. He expressed gratitude that Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland had successfully followed-up the recommendations and held the training. It was hoped that participants would put the knowledge acquired into good use in cross border areas in Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland for more effective disease control to the benefit of livestock keeping communities.
In his remarks, Dr Sharmake Ahmed Ismail, Head of Delegation for Somaliland thanked Djibouti Government for allowing them to enter and participate in the workshop. Furthermore, he thanked AU-IBAR for providing valuable knowledge to the region. He finally encouraged the SMPAH project to organize more similar fora for information exchange in the region.
In his remarks, Dr. Mohamed Muse, the Head of Delegation from Puntland expressed gratitude and appreciation to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in Djibouti for organizing the workshop. He further thanked AU-IBAR for supporting the training workshop for frontline animal health workers from cross-border areas in Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland.
In his official opening, Dr Moussa Ibrahim Cheik, the Director General, Animal Health in the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries in the Republic of Djibouti welcomed all participants to the country. He emphasized the importance of such a joint training that would strengthen active surveillance of priority transboundary animal diseases in cross-border areas given that Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland share common characteristics such as free movement of animals through borders, livestock exportation, and geographical location. Finally he advised participants to embrace regional spirit and utilize the knowledge in serving livestock keeping communities.
The workshop achieved the following:
- Ecosystem harmonization and coordination of veterinary activities between Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland in cross border areas initiated;
- A forum to facilitate animal health information sharing between frontline animal health workers from Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland initiated;
- Gaps and corresponding required actions for strengthening disease surveillance, control and reporting in cross-border areas in Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland identified;
- Implementation of activities stipulated under cross border harmonization in the respective country activity plans for 2015 for Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland initiated.
Proceedings
The workshop was conducted through presentations, plenary discussion and group work.
Overview of the SMP-AH Project
The presentation outlined activities of the Standard Methods and Procedures in Animal Health (SMP-AH) project in the region. The presentation further elaborated harmonization of animal health approaches in the Greater Horn of Africa, especially for prevention and control of trade-related priority diseases, including RVF, PPR, CBPP, CCPP, FMD, LSD, SGP, Camel pox and brucellosis. In addition, the SMPAH Activity Plans for 2015 for Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland were presented and activity implementation discussed. Djibouti and Puntland were requested to set dates for immediate implementation of pending activities.
Sharing of information on disease status among countries
Countries elaborated current disease surveillance systems, sanitary information on priority transboundary animal diseases and major challenges. Lack or low prevalence of diseases in Djibouti among animals from Ethiopia was the centre of the discussions. Djibouti participants reasoned that disease outbreaks were very low due to unfavorable or hot climate that limits disease transmission. However, many participants were of the view that vaccination of animals in cross-borders areas in the countries would ensure animals crossing the borders are healthy. Logistical constraints affecting disease control campaigns, lack of monitoring of the performance of Community Animal Health Workers and reluctance of trained veterinarians to operate at the entry points due to the lack of budget allocation constituted the major challenges discussed.
Review of disease surveillance, control and reporting in border entry points and cross-border areas
The presentation elaborated first the theoretical principles of active surveillance citing various forms of surveillance such as sero-surveillance; syndromic surveillance; clinical surveillance; participatory epidemiology; and outbreak investigation of suspicious cases, especially at points of entry. For passive surveillance, emphasis was put on early warning, prediction of possible outbreaks and disease reporting. Participants were reminded that PPR, CCPP, CBPP, Camelpox, Sheep and goat pox and FMD were priority diseases to be addressed in the Somali ecosystem as per recommendations of the regional cross-border meeting held in Dire Dawa, Ethiopia, 8th to 10th December 2014.
Epidemiological investigation, movement control, and quarantine were considered important interventions for disease control in border entry points and cross-border areas. Others included, laboratory testing and vaccination. In addition, health certification was discussed at length especially in the context of harmonization along trade routes, border entry points and quarantine stations.
Disease reporting in cross-border areas was discussed. It was stressed that it was important for disease data to be transmitted to designated epidemiologists for analysis in order to advise the respective disease control decision makers. Upon confirmation of the first case, an immediate notification to OIE, AU-IBAR and all Departments of Veterinary Services in the GHoA region had to be made. Capacity building on information management was identified as crucial to handle data emanating from surveillance, laboratory diagnosis and response activities. Countries had to manage information properly using ARIS-2 and had to strengthen the national disease notification system. It was necessary to strengthen information sharing with other stakeholders within countries as well.
Ongoing disease surveillance in entry points and cross-border areas in Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland was discussed. The presentation tackled active and passive surveillance at border entry points and cross-border areas. The review took into consideration the type of surveillance employed in respective countries in border entry points in relationship to animal movement patterns, reporting activities and eventually identified gaps in ongoing surveillance.
Puntland stated that they usually received disease reports from frontline community animal health workers (CAHW) either directly or through District Veterinary Officer (DVO) from districts situated along the border with Ethiopia and along the border with Somaliland. DVOs normally filled out disease reporting forms and sent them to the Epidemiology and Data Management Unit (EDMU). CAHWs normally reported any incident of diseases to the DVOs who in-turn reported to surveillance teams to allow them conduct disease investigation. Depending upon the logistical support, the Ministry undertook intervention in form of vaccination or treatment in accordance with findings in the disease investigation report.
Development of action plans
In their respective teams, participants from Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland identified major border entry points and quarantine stations and analysed the ongoing active surveillance and passive surveillance activities and respective actors involved. In addition, discussed ongoing disease reporting, identified major gaps to be addressed and proposed actions as well as timelines for implementing the required actions (see annex 5.1-5.3).
Mechanism for regular exchange and sharing of animal health information for rapid response in cross-border areas
Each country-specific team discussed the required trilateral platforms to facilitate regular exchange and sharing of animal health information for rapid response. They further discussed how it could be implemented to successfully bring frontline animal health workers from Djibouti, Puntland and Somaliland together to facilitate information sharing.
Djibouti
For Djibouti, responses were as follows:
- Creation of trilateral steering committee meeting representing Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland to facilitate regular exchange and sharing of animal health information for rapid response across borders.
- Joint training of frontline animal health workers from Djibouti, Puntland and Somaliland targeting information sharing systems such as ARIS 2.
- Establish a liaison office to receive communications for disease notifiable in the three countries and streamline communication through circulation of contacts including e-mails and phone numbers.
- Organize community resource and information sharing across the border
- Organize signing of Memorandum of understanding (MoUs) between three countries to facilitate the cross border collaboration.
Somaliland
For Somaliland, responses were as follows:
- To arrange quarterly trilateral meetings
- To create awareness among frontline animal health workers
- To strengthen communication and information flow at ministerial level
- To create and encourage training of border inspectors and strengthen their communication and information sharing based on EDMU pathway
- Respective countries i.e. Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland should respect certificates from each other
Puntland
For Puntland, responses were as follows:
- Organize trilateral platforms driven by Technical Committee Meetings composed of CVOs from Puntland, Somaliland and Djibouti.
- Develop and sign sound MoUs for effective implementation of activities in cross-border areas.
- Develop animal health information database accessible to all EDMUs at headquarters of the Ministries responsible for livestock.
Mechanism for harmonized health certification at border entry points and quarantine stations between Djibouti, Puntland and Somaliland
Djibouti
For Djibouti, responses were as follows:
- Sign MoUs to guide health certification between three countries
- Create standardized animal movement permit especially for trade purpose recognized by Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland
- Harmonize animal health requirements agreed by the three countries.
Somaliland
For Somaliland, the responses were as follows:
- Issue inspection certification at the point of sale of livestock
- Provide movement certification which is taken from one region to another by the owner of the animal
- Issue vessel certification during shipping
- Provide pre-inspection certification
- Provide quarantine certification
- Health certification should be provided by the Port Officer
Puntland
For Puntland, the responses were as follows:
- Organize harmonized health certification through standardization of animal health system involving the three countries to build confidence.
- Establish and rehabilitate livestock health infrastructure.
- Undertake training of animal health workers carrying out health certification in border entry points and quarantine stations.
- Enforce livestock movement policies and guidelines.
Recommendations
Upon lengthy discussions on the afore-mentioned areas and pertinent concerns arising therein, the participants recommended the following:
To AU-IBAR
- To engage inter-ministerial meetings to strengthen re-enforcement of veterinary policies and regulations, and animal welfare operations in cross-border areas
To AU-IBAR and IGAD/ICPALD
- To develop MoU among Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland to help harmonize disease surveillance approaches, health certification, strengthen collaboration and awareness
- To organize joint meetings to review and harmonize health certifications at border entry points
- To organize regular coordination meetings for frontline animal health workers from Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland to update priority diseases (PPR, CCPP, CBPP, Camelpox, SGP and FMD) in the Somali ecosystem
To AU-IBAR and MS
- To establish a trilateral platform for sharing animal health information and experience exchange in the cross-borders involving Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland
- To strengthen collaboration between the public and private sectors involving in livestock trade and quarantine station through networking (Network for Quarantines) and awareness creation
To MS
- To conduct strong awareness campaigns on animal health in cross-border areas
- To train frontline animal health workers from cross-border areas at individual national levels in Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland
- MS to support operationalization or strengthening of national trader associations in Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland to strengthen livestock trade
Way forward
- Organize co-ordination meetings for frontline animal health workers from Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland to update priority diseases (PPR, CCPP, CBPP, Camelpox, SGP and FMD) and review the health certification in the Somali ecosystem by December 2015 in Puntland.
- Commence training of frontline animal health workers from cross-border areas at individual national levels in Djibouti, Somaliland and Puntland on disease surveillance, disease control, disease reporting and health certification by November 2015
Done this 22nd August 2015
Annexes
Action plan for Djibouti
| Name of Border Entry Points/Quarantine stations | Major direct of livestock | Ongoing active surveillance and actors | Ongoing passive surveillance and actors | Ongoing disease reporting | Major gaps | Proposed action | Timeline |
| -From Somaliland to Djibouti by trick | -Outbreak | -Field visit | -Manual report from all actors to the central for analyzing and response | -Shortage of logistics. | -Improve veterinary equipment | October-December, 2015 | |
| Loyada | Investigation | – Clinical examination | – Lack of disease surveillance information sharing (CAHWs) at cross border level ; | -Jointly training of frontline reporting agents on disease reporting | |||
| -animal treatment campaign | -Animal treatment campaign | -Inadequate human recourses at CB ; | – Provide reporting agents with data capture and transmission tools. | ||||
| -monthly report | Actors | -Poor infrastructure | – Enhance Means of transportation | ||||
| -Laboratory diagnosis | Veterinarians | -Limited budget | -Improved communication system | ||||
| Actors | -vet. technicians | – Limited diagnostic Labs at CB | -Awareness creation for Disease reporting across border | ||||
| -Veterinarians | -CAHWs | -Lack of awareness for disease reporting | – Regular meeting and communication between counter parts across border ( Weekly, Monthly, quarterly etc) | ||||
| -vet . technicians | -Agro-pastoral community | – lack of harmonize intervention in Disease control across the border | |||||
| -CAHWs | |||||||
| -Agro-pastoral community | |||||||
| -From Somaliland to Djibouti by trick & vice versa | Outbreak | -Field visit | Same for loyada | Same | Same | October-December, 2015 | |
| Guestir | Investigation | -Disease identification | |||||
| -animal treatment campaign | -Animal treatment campaign | ||||||
| -monthly report | Actors | ||||||
| Actors | |||||||
| -Veterinarian | -CAHWs | ||||||
| Vet. technicians | -Agro-pastoral community | ||||||
| -CAHWs | |||||||
| -Agro-pastoral community | |||||||
| Somaliland and Ethiopia to Djibouti & vice versa | Same for Guestir | Same for Guestir | Same for Guestir | Same for Guestir | Same for Guestir | October-December, 2015 | |
| Asamo | |||||||
| From Somaliland and Puntland to Djibouti for trade purpose | – Checking health certificate | -General investigation | Reported by manpower to CVO | Same | Same | October-December, 2015 | |
| Djibouti Port | Issued movement permit | – Checking health certificate | |||||
| Actors | -Vet. Intervention | ||||||
| -Veterinarian | Actors | ||||||
| – Vet. Technician | -Veterinarian | ||||||
| – | – Vet. Technician | ||||||
| Quarantine Stations | Ethiopia, Somalia | Well active surveillance for vaccination, Identification, Sampling, Lab diagnostic, Isolation, | -General investigation, | – Daily report form stations, | -From Ethiopia Transportation | -Joint update training for Quarantine staff and frontline staff at entry point for disease control, surveillance and reporting. | October-December, 2015 |
| PM, animal welfare, SOPs for lab and Quarantine procedures. | Clinical examination, treatment, housing, watering and feeding | – data entry and capture, sharing information to the CVO under MoA | -From Somaliland certification | -Creation awareness for animal welfare on the trilateral countries | |||
| Actors | -uncontrolled animal movement | ||||||
| PhD vets | Actors | -lack of coordination and harmonization to control TADs. | |||||
| Vets, Technicians, skilled workers | PHD vets | ||||||
| -Lab technicians | Vets, Technicians, good practice workers | ||||||
| – PM technicians | -Lab technicians | ||||||
| – PM technicians | |||||||
| -trader and owners |
Action plan for Somaliland
| Name of Border Entry Points/Quarantine stations | Major direct of livestock | Ongoing active surveillance and actors | Ongoing passive surveillance and actors | Ongoing disease reporting | Major gaps | Proposed action | Time-line |
| Togwachale ,lawya ado,geestiir,
baligubadle, Gorayo cawl, Ina guuxaa, Balidhiig labisagaale Buuhoodle |
1. (Ethiopia-somaliland)2. (Djabouti –somaliland)3. (Puntland –somaliland)
|
by inspection and sampling for the following actors.CAHWs
AHT
DVO
RVC
EDMU
|
Manual reporting formats and cell phones. | By EDMU field forms | sufficient budget to the disease reporting channel | To allocate sufficient budget to the disease reporting channel. | 6 months |
| By phone | Insufficient animal health posts in the entry points | Set up animal health in all entry points. | 1 year | ||||
| Lack of coordination between actors. | Complete communication facilities | 3 months | |||||
| ARIS-2 logistic service missing | -To train ARIS-2 system in the country-Provide complete ARIS-2 logistics in all entry points | 6 months | |||||
| Holding ground and rest points1- Wajaale2- Allay baday
3- Qoolacaday 4- Aroori |
Ethiopia- Somaliland | Inspection by frontline animal health workers | Manual format and cell phone holding ground officer | EDMU field format | Mis- understanding between livestock owners and holding ground staffs | Establish negotiation through concensus | 6 months |
| Livestock Export QuarantineBerbera quarantine(indhadero)
Gulf international 1. aljabbiri) 2. Almutahid quarantine
|
Ethiopia – Somaliland | Identification sampling and lab testing done by quarantine staffs | Manual format head of quarantine | Manual reporting and E- reporting by using emails. | Poor coordination between quarantine and other actors | biuld strength coordination between quarantine and other actors. |
3 Months
|
Action plan for Puntland
| Name of Border Entry Points/Quarantine stations | Major direct of livestock | Ongoing active surveillance and actors | Ongoing passive surveillance and actors | Ongoing disease reporting | Major gaps | Proposed action | Timeline |
| Galkaio | South Central-Bosaso | Outbreak investigation (Case definition, sample collection, participatory epidemiology by MoLAH/partners | Syndrome/clinical examination by Herders, CAHWs /trained vets | EDMU Field Forms,Mobile Contacts | Poor infrastructure, insufficient logistical allocation | Infrastructural rehabilitation, adequate budget allocation for personnel at the entry | Oct-Dec 2015 |
| Tawfiiq | South Central-Bosaso( for trading) SC-Jariban (for pasture) |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
No staff deployment,Lack of infrastructure | Active staff in placement and infrastructural establishment | Dec-Jan 2016 |
| Galdagob/Buuhodle | SC/Ethiopia-Bosaso ( Trading)/
|
Outbreak investigation (Case definition, sample collection, participatory epidemiology by MoLAH/partners | Syndrome/clinical examination by Herders, CAHWs /trained vets | EDMU Field Forms,Mobile Contacts | Poor infrastructure, poor skilled staff | Rehabilitation of infrastructure and capacity building | Feb-Apr 2016 |
| Darusalam/Dudun | Ethopia-Bosaso | N/A | N/A | N/A | No staff deployment,Lack of infrastructure | Establishment of infrastructure and staff capacity building | May-August2016 |
| Lascano/Fiqi-fuliye | Somaliland -Bosaso | N/A | N/A | N/A | No staff deployment,Lack of infrastructure | Establishment of infrastructure and staff capacity building | Aug-Nov2016 |
|
Bosaso Quarantine(2) |
SC/Ethio/SL | Clinical inspection/Sampling/Quarantine/Vaccination by Quarantine officers |
N/A
|
Observation |
Reception of uninspected and uncertified animal. Improper animal transportation. | Harmonisation of Animal Health Certification. | August, 2015-Decembre 2016 |
List of participants
Somaliland
- Sharma’arke Ahmed Ismail
Head of Training, Research and Extension section
MoL-HR
+252634244404
Email:[email protected]
- Mukhtar Abdi Elmi
EDMU officer
MoL
+252634450472
Email:[email protected]
- Dr Abdirizak Tahir Awale
Head of wajale inspection department
Ministry of livestock
Tel: +252634523488
Email: [email protected]
- Dr Ibrahim Omer Farah
Baligubadle Veterinary district officer
Ministry of livestock Somaliland
Phone:+25263-3549596
Email:[email protected]
- Dr Mustafe Omar Jibriil
Head of Export health Certification
MoL
Phone:+252634302800
Email:[email protected]
- Mustafe Mohamed Ahmed
Head of saylac animal health inspector
MoL
Phone:+252634405299
Email: [email protected]
- Deeqa Osman Abdulahi
EDMU
MoL
Phone:+25263-4474522
Email: [email protected]
- Ali-bashiir Abdilahi Mohamed
RVC depute
MoL
Phone:+2524441079
- Mahmoud Elmi
Regional Veterinary Coordinator
MoL
Phone:+25263-4464548
Email: [email protected]
Puntland
- Sharmake Abdullahi Duale
SMP-AH Focal Point, Puntland State of Somalia
Animal Health Department
Ministry of Livestock & Animal Husbandry PL.
Garowe, Puntland State of Somalia
E-mail: [email protected]; [email protected]
Skype: shermasheekh
Tel: +252 907 791249
- Abdurahman Mohamed Musse
Head of public health at MOLAH
Email:[email protected]
Tell:+25290 7743975
- Abdirisak Jama Mohamed
Private veterinerian
Email :[email protected]
Tell :+252907933265
- Mohamed Yusuf Isse
EDMU office At MOLAH
Email :[email protected]
Tel :+252907794562
- Abdislam Mohamed Ahmed
DVO IN Bosaso
Email :[email protected]
Tel :+252907712403
- Dr Abdinazir Ali Mohamed
RVO Mudug region
Email :[email protected]
Tel :+252907723231
- Nadira Hassan Yassin
MOLAH Staff HQ/Garowe
Email :[email protected]
Tel :+252907913556
- Sumaya Bashir Muse
MOLAH Staff HQ/Garowe
Email :[email protected]
Tel :+252907743393
- Ms Fatima Abdullahi Abdirahman
MOLAH Staff HQ/Garowe
Email :[email protected]
Tel :+252907746796
- Mr Abdikarim Ahmed Jama
EDMU officer
Email :[email protected]
Tel :+252907765983
- Abdullahi Ali Mohamed
Labarotory technician
Email :[email protected]
Tel :+252907749078
- Ms Khadra Mohamed Hirad
MOLAH Staff HQ/Garowe
Email :[email protected]
Tel :+252907798071
- Mohamed Ismail Warsame
Pulpa Chairman
Email :[email protected]
Tel : +252907740137
- Mohamed Musse Siad
Private veterinerian
Email :[email protected]
Tel :+252907663709
- Dr Abdisalam Warsame Mohamed
Bosaso quarantaine staff
Email :
Tel :+252907714451
Djibouti
- Mohamed Ismail Omar
- Sahal Ahmed Elmi
- Hassan Houjerah Hagaira
- Djamal Mousa Kadieh
- Abdi Bouh amir
- Abas Khaire Elmi
- Abdoullahi Ali Hoch
- Abdi Mahamoud Elmi
- Omar Assowe Djama
- Fatuma Houmad Omar
- Ali Ibrahim Mohamed
- Elmi Ali Ahmed
- Omar Chireh Walieh
- Madina Sougeh Idire
- Moussa Ibrahim Cheik
AU-IBAR
40) Dr Joseph Magona
Veterinary Epidemiologist
AU-IBAR, ICPALD
Kenindia Business Park
P.O. Box 30786-00100
Nairobi, KENYA
Tel: +254 20 3674 000
Email: [email protected]
41) Mr. Kennedy Onyango,
Accountant
AU-IBAR
Kenindia Business Park
P.O. Box 30786-00100
Nairobi, KENYA
Tel: +254 20 3674 000
E-mail: [email protected]
