Paris: Dr. Fajr Al Salloum, Director of the Animal Health Directorate at the Ministry of Municipalities Affairs and Agriculture and Vice President of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Council, recently participated in the 92nd General Session of the World Assembly of Delegates of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) held in France. The assembly brought together representatives from 183 member countries, along with several international organisations and institutions focused on animal health.
According to Bahrain News Agency, the session addressed crucial topics including the adoption of updated international standards for animal health and trade. It also involved a review of the current epidemiological situations in member countries concerning diseases such as foot-and-mouth disease and avian influenza. Additionally, the session emphasized the importance of strengthening coordination among member states under the One Health approach, which integrates human, animal, and environmental health strategies.
The session featured an "Animal Health" forum dedicated to the discussion of vaccines and immunisation. This forum highlighted the challenges and opportunities related to vaccine development and use, forming part of strategies to prevent and control animal diseases. The aim was to establish a roadmap with actionable steps to enhance the global immunisation system's effectiveness.
The session concluded with several important recommendations. These included the adoption of new technical standards and recommendations within the terrestrial and aquatic health codes, the initiation of joint initiatives to boost transparency and improve epidemic reporting mechanisms, and the adoption of new strategies to combat emerging and zoonotic diseases. Further support was pledged for national capacity-building programmes focused on immunisation and veterinary laboratories.