SMP-AH National SMP roll-out workshop for Somaliland and Central South Somalia, Hargeisa

Introduction

A national SMP roll-out workshop for Somaliland, and Central South Somalia was held in Hargeisa, from 4^th to 6^th August 2015. Its main aim was to roll-out ready Standard Methods and Procedures (SMPs) for FMD, PPR, RVF and brucellosis to veterinary stakeholders within Somaliland, and Central South Somalia to create awareness in order to foster smooth implementation of the SMPs. The workshop brought together key players in animal health service delivery mainly from Somaliland, and Central South Somalia serving in ministries for livestock, Universities, Trader association and Livestock Production Associations. In addition, the workshop reviewed the status of livestock diseases and delivery of veterinary services in the regions in Somaliland, and Central South Somalia. A total of 44 participants drawn from various regions of Somaliland, and Central South Somalia and AU-IBAR attended the meeting.

In his remarks, Dr Joseph Magona, on behalf of the Director, AU-IBAR, Prof. Ahmed Elsawalhy, pointed out that the SMP roll-out workshop was intended to disseminate ready SMPs, namely, FMD, PPR, RVF and brucellosis to all national stakeholders in order to initiate implementation at national level. He encouraged all livestock stakeholders in Somaliland, Puntland and Central South Somalia to embrace the implementation of the SMPs for FMD, PPR, RVF and brucellosis during disease control and regulation of trade in livestock and livestock products. This he said would harmonize disease control and enhance effective delivery of animal health services to satisfaction of livestock communities.

In his remarks, Dr. Osman Mohamed Ali, the representative from Central South Somalia, thanked the AU-IBAR for organizing this workshop. He thanked all those who contributed and helped in the Workshop. He also thanked all participants for honouring the invitations and advised them to participate in the workshop to the fullest. He however, regretted the absence of participants from Puntland in such an important workshop.

In his opening remarks, the Director General in Ministry of Livestock in Somaliland, Dr Jama Odowa recognized the importance of livestock in Somaliland and the responsibility entrusted to the Ministry of Livestock regarding the prevention and control of animal diseases especially transboundary animal diseases. He encouraged staff to be honest and hardworking.

The workshop achieved the following:

Awareness created among stakeholders on the SMPs
Components of the SMPs described
Stakeholders participation in the SMP implementation promoted
A feedback mechanism for implementation of SMPs developed
Animal health service delivery in Central South Somalia and Somaliland reviewed
Challenges in trade in livestock and livestock products in Somaliland and Central South Somalia reviewed

Proceedings

The workshop was conducted through presentations, plenary discussion and group work.

Overview of the SMP-AH Project

The presentation elaborated activities of the Standard Methods and Procedures in Animal Health (SMP-AH) project in region. It pointed out that the project was aimed at harmonizing animal health approaches in the Greater Horn of Africa region, especially for prevention and control of trade-related ppriority diseases, including RVF, PPR, CBPP, CCPP, FMD, LSD, SGP, Camel pox and brucellosis.

Standard Methods and Procedures (SMP)

The presentations highlighted the principles and concept of the SMPs to the participants, including Disease Control, Surveillance and Laboratory diagnosis components.

Feedback mechanism on the progress of implementation of SMPs

The discussion identified the roles of the Director General, Regional Veterinary Coordinators, Port Veterinarians, Universities, District Veterinary Officers and Community Animal Health Workers regarding the implementation of SMPs in Somaliland. As well roles of the Director General, Director of Veterinary Services, Regional Veterinary Officers, District Veterinary Officers, Private Veterinarians in Livestock Production Associations regarding the implementation of SMPs in Central South Somalia were discussed. It was agreed that the Director General for Livestock in Somaliland and the Director General for Livestock, Fisheries and Range in Central South Somalia ensure SMPs are institutionalized and incorporated in day-to-day practice as a matter of policy in their respective Government. The District Veterinary Officers in Somaliland and Focal persons belonging to Livestock Production Associations in Central South Somalia would supervise implementation of the SMPs and ensure that they provide regular feedback to the respective SMP-AH focal persons in Somaliland and Central South Somalia, who would in-turn, send feedback to AU-IBAR.

Disease status and Control efforts in various regions in Somaliland and Central South Somalia

Regional Veterinary Coordinators, Veterinarians from the Quarantine stations, Veterinarians from the Central Veterinary Laboratory and those in-charge of mobile teams in Somaliland presented the reports on disease status, disease control campaigns and challenges faced. CCPP, TBDs, Trypanosomosis, helminthiasis, Blackquarter and brucellosis were the commonest diseases in rural communities. For Central South Somalia, Veterinarians from the EDMU, Universities and Livestock Production Associations presented reports on the disease status, disease control campaigns and challenges faced. For both Somaliland and Central South Somalia, disease control strategies mainly target vaccinations, movement control and prophylactic and curative treatment. The services were mainly delivered by the Governmemnt Veterinary staff in Somaliland and Privates working with Livestock Production Association in Central South Somalia. Community Animal Health Workers provide grassroot animal health services within livestock communities across the entire Somaliland and Central South Somalia.

Differing administrations within South and Central zones of Somalia, endemic fighting, Insecurity and restrictions; Seasonal rains and poor road infrastructures; No adequate capacity building for the private professionals and the associations; Poor of co-ordinations & cohesiveness of stakeholders; Low awareness among pastoralists; Poor hygiene and meat inspection services; slaughter slabs are not managed and inspected by professional meat inspectors; no vaccinations against production limiting diseases such as Anthrax, HS, BQ ; Poor cross-border animal movement control; non-operational central laboratory; Poor communication in remote areas; and Poor capacity building for CAWHS.

The Role of Livestock Identification and Traceability System in Disease Surveillance in Somaliland and Central South Somalia

The presentation highlighted hot iron branding, animal painting, tattooing, ear-notching and ear-tagging as common LITS options in Somalia. Hot iron branding was commonest method practised traditionally by pastoralist communities with each clan practising a specific method of LITS. LITS is generally used in identifying breeding animals, trade animals and for differentiation of animals for particular countries along border areas. Ear notching is mostly for dairy animals, ear-tagging or marking with marker pens for vaccinated animals. Major challenges included fading away of marks on vaccinated animals, confusion between markers used by different clans, and lack of a well-organized registration system and central database for Somalia in general.

Sharing of activity plan for 2015

The meeting discussed the implementation of the activities for the year 2015 for Somaliland and Central South Somalia, including, roll-out of SMPs for implementation; creating a community grassroot disease reporting system; active surveillance on FMD, CBPP, RVF, PPR, Brucellosis, LSD and CCPP; Procurement of laboratory consumables, ICT equipment; Refresher training of laboratory staff and inspectors manning Border Posts; and implementation of awareness creation programmes to enhance disease control.

Developments of action plans for implementation of the SMPs in Somaliland and Central South Somalia

Participants discussed and scheduled key activities for achieving full roll-out of SMPs, including the workshop for development of the SMP implementation plan, zonal awareness workshops to promote SMP implementation, Institutionalization of SMPs in Policy, and reporting on the SMP implementation, including progress in utilization of SMPs, identification of shortcomings and emerging diseases requiring development of SMPs. Annual national review workshops on SMP implementation were considered necessary. This would then raise aspects to be considered during the annual regional review of SMPs by a Committee of Chief Veterinary Officers from implementing countries. AU-IBAR would organize the annual regional review workshop for SMPs. Action plans were developed to guide the implementation of the identified activities in Somaliland and Central South Somalia (see Annex 5.1 and 5.2).

Recommendations

Upon discussion on the afore-mentioned topics and pertinent concerns arising therein, the participants recommended the following:

To Governments of Somaliland and Central South Somalia and AU-IBAR

To fast-track incorporation of SMP implementation into national policies

To MS

To allocate adequate and sustainable finance for the livestock sector to improve the quality of services to livestock sector
To strengthen public and private partnership
To fast-track enactment of law governing Veterinary Services
To improve the relationship between all stakeholders-Private sector, quarantine, veterinary schools and Government through regular meeting and proper channel for information sharing
To increase number of Border Inspection Check points and animal health posts along Somaliland withy Ethiopia and Djibouti

Way forward

SMP-AH national teams and national Governments in collaboration with AU-IBAR to follow-up proposed action plans for SMP implementation in Somaliland and Central South Somalia

Done this 6^th August 2015

Annexes

Action plan for Central South Somalia

Activity	Place	Actors	Source of funds	Timeline
Workshop for development of the national implementation plan	Mogadishu	Selected CVOsPrivate vets Univesrsities Focal point person (40 Participants)	SMP – AH Project	26-28/09/2015
Awareness creation workshops at zonal level and distribution of SMP documents(15,000 copies)	BaydhaboBaledweyne Kismanyo Adado	DVOsLocal Authority RVO Chairpersons Local elders Livestock traders Public and Private veterinarians Milk farmers Training & Educational institution (30 participant per region	SMP – AH Project	5-7/10/201518-20/10/2015 1-3/11/2015 14-16/11/2015
Develop a tool for feedback and M&E mechanism i.e. a tool to 1) standardize reporting ( to show how to report, when to report, how often) 2) Identify loopholes in the document to be revised	Mogadishu	Selected CVOsFocal point person Private Vets Universities Livestock Slaughterhouse Meat firms (40 Participants)	SMP – AH Project	28-30/11/2015
Reporting	DistrictsLevel	DVOsSenior LPAs	SMP – AH Project	By 15^th of every month
Backstopping districts to ensure compliance, build capacity & get a feedback	District Level	DVOFocal point person Senior LPAs	SMP – AH Project	Monthly
Revision and incorporation of SMPs into policy	National level(Mogadishu	CVOSMPAH focal person	SMP – AH Project	December 2015
Hold annual review meeting	Mogadishu	MoLFR, DVOs, Focal point personSenior LPAs AU-IBAR	SMP – AH Project	15-17/12/2015
Hold annual regional review meeting	Nairobi	CVO	SMP-AH Project	2016

Action plan for Somaliland

Activity	Place	Actors	Source of funds	Timeline
Workshop for development of SMP implementation for Somaliland	Hargeisa	RVO, DVO, private. Quarantine stations, veterinary Universities	SMP – AH Project	12^th Sept 2015
Regional workshop for awareness of creation and distribution of SMP documents (11,000 copies)	Burao Borama Sheikh	Veterinarian , Livestock keepers, DVO, CAWHs, abattoirs, traders, Dairy Farmers associations	SMP – AH Project	10^th Oct. 2015
Develop a tool for feedback and M&E mechanism i.e. a tool to1) standardize reporting ( to show how to report, when to report, how often) 2) Identify loopholes in the document to be revised	Hargeisa	Veterinarian , Livestock keepers, DVO, CAWHs, slaughter house traders, Dairy Farmers associationsFocal points and Veterinary Universities AU-IBAR	SMP – AH Project	10^th November 2015
Reporting	DVO-Level	DVO	SMP – AH Project	By 10^th of every month
Revision and incorporation of SMPs into policy	DG	DGSMPAH focal person	SMP – AH Project	December 2015
Backstopping districts to ensure compliance, build capacity & get a feedback	DVO-level	DVO	Ministry of livestock	Monthly
Capacity building districts to ensure compliance	All Regions	14 check points of each,Border line areas. 60 Vet inspectors	SMP – AH Project	Dec 1th to 12^th. 2015
Hold annual review meeting	Borama	Focal points, RVO,DVO, vet institutions	SMP – AH Project	Dec. 20^th -12^th 2015
Hold annual regional review meeting	Nairobi	CVO	SMP-AH	2016

List of participants

Central South Somalia

1) Dr Amina Hussein Duhulow

Senior Laboratory Technician

South West Livestock Professional Association

Mogadishu

Somalia

Tel: +252617090260

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SMP-AH National SMP roll-out workshop for Somaliland and Central South Somalia, Hargeisa

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