Introduction
IGAD member countries (Djibouti, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, the Sudan and Uganda) are rich in livestock and home to 336 million ruminants (cattle, small ruminants and camels). These resources are also the main livelihoods for the pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in the Arid and Semi-arid /ASALs/ of the region.
Quarantines are an important disease control facilities. It was agreed between exporting countries in IGAD and importing countries in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) to establish and strengthen these facilities as a tool to lift the ban due to the Rift valley fever disease and improve inspection and certification of export animals. The export quarantines have been recognized as a feasible model for promoting livestock trade, given that several trans-boundary animal diseases being endemic in the region. Such facilities give an opportunity for animals to be inspected and certified before being shipped to export markets, especially to MENA.
Currently there are more than 11 export quarantines in the region. As it is useful to provide technical support for the quarantines; IGAD and AUIBAR developed Standard methods and procedures (SMP) and Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and these documents were validated by key stakeholders in the region. Moreover, a regional export quarantines network was established to help in information and lessons sharing and enhance compliance. This regional regional experience sharing visit organized by ICPALD/IGAD to Sudan export quarantine and related facilities ; Sudan being the main live animal exporters; is believed to facilitate sharing key lessons and observations on the facilities
Welcome Speech was made by Dr. Ameha Sebsibe, head of livestock IGAD/ICPALD on behalf of ICPALD Director and Dr. Kamal El shikh Tajelseer, Undersecretary and CVO made opening remark. The participants were from private and public export quarantines from countries of the IGAD region
The regional delegation had introductory presentation by the directors under Ministry of Livestock , visited Suakini final quarantine, Alkadro intermediate quarantine, MOLEH cattle market and Al Ateghat feedlot and primary quarantine
Key lessons learnt from Sudan includes
- Long experience in livestock export trade and good communication system put in place between three levels of quarantines (primary, intermediate and final quarantines) each having agreed defined roles. It is recommended that countries in the region have at least a pre-quarantine and main quarantine.
- Strong veterinary service established a century ago and disease control, surveillance and communication up to the community level with paravets by using mobile telephones and other communication system helped to increase supply of healthy animals for export market.
- Good communication with importing countries politically and technically is also one of the strength other countries should pursue.
- Sudan is utilizing different options including encouraging private investors to establish feedlot and export; the government also using the facility as a primary quarantine
The delegation also provided some suggestions for improvement by Sudan quarantines. We are grateful for STSD project (EU) for financing the regional delegation
