Ibrahim Abdoul Nasser, the FAO’s deputy representative, noted his organization’s commitment to providing the country with qualified and operational veterinary staff, by developing their skills in epidemiology. He pointed out that from 2021 to the present day, the FAO has supported the training of four cohorts of veterinarians in field epidemiology in the DRC, equipping 70 professionals throughout the country. ‘The aim of this program, which is overseen by the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, is to train and provide the country with a critical mass of veterinary field epidemiologists capable of playing an effective role in the prevention, early detection and response to emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases’, he said. However, Ibrahim Abdoul pointed out that, given the vastness of the DRC and the risks associated with the emergence and re-emergence of epizootic diseases, there is still a huge need for veterinary epidemiologists in the field, particularly in the 5 provinces covered by this project (Bas-Uele, Ituri, North Kivu, South Kivu and Sankuru) where there is a low level of preparedness for emergency situations. Ibrahim Abdoul made a vibrant appeal to all stakeholders to think carefully about the sustainability and institutionalization of the ISAVET program, so that the country can benefit in the long term from a more robust health system. He thanked the Ministries of Fisheries and Livestock and of the Environment and Sustainable Development, as well as the Director General of the National Institute of Public Health, for their involvement in the organization of this training course in field epidemiology. He assured the audience that the organization remains committed to assisting the Congolese government in the training of veterinary professionals in order to support its efforts to put in place a process capable of contributing effectively to the prevention, early detection and response to priority diseases. The FAO is dedicated to eliminating hunger. Since 2016, it has been implementing activities aimed at building a sustainable national animal health system capable of preventing, rapidly detecting and effectively responding to animal health emergencies, based on the ‘’One Health‘’ approach in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The specialized agency of the United Nations system, with the help of the Pandemic Control Fund, is implementing the : ‘Strengthening pandemic preparedness and response capacities in five provinces of the DRC (SOPRAP), for the period 2024-2027. The project comprises a number of activities based on three technical areas: surveillance, the laboratory system and human resources.