By Aisha Tamba and Nyima Bah
As the world continues to grapple with the second wave of the deadly coronavirus and several other emerging animal species considered serious health threats, Gambian authorities in the health and agriculture sectors have commenced training on prevention measures.
The training facilitated and funded by the WHO and the World Organisation for Animal Health brought together one hundred stakeholders from the two ministries. The three-day intensive training also focused on the prevention of zoonotic diseases (diseases which can be transmitted to humans from animals).
It will also provide an opportunity to human and animal health services of host countries to review their current collaboration gaps in key technical areas, develop a joint road-map of collective measure, strategic investments to improve the work at the animal-interface in the prevention, detection and control of zoonotic diseases.
Experts say research evidence suggests that the health of humans and animals are interlinked and that the majority of emerging, re-emerging and endemic human diseases have their origins in animals. These animal diseases also have additional implications for human health through food safety and food security.
The minister of health, Dr Samateh, said the health of animals is important to humans as we depend on them.
“If the animals are not healthy and are dying, it will affect the food chain and a lot of us may be hungry. So, strengthening animal health is also our mandate. We have a responsibly make sure that the humans and animals are healthy.”
He emphasised that deadly diseases Ebola and coronavirus came from animals.
“We have seen many zoonotic diseases that are deadly, for example Ebola and Coronavirus are very deadly and highly infectious.”
He added that the probabilities for zoonotic diseases to become pandemic are very high.
The minister for agriculture, Amie Fabureh, said the training is aimed at helping the two ministries to work together in enhancing food security.
“It has been shown that the two institutions, the ministry of health and agriculture, need to work more closely for better human and animal health,” she said.
