FAO concludes the fourth capacity-building training with Libyan partners in Alzintan

Libya – 29-31 October 2019

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and its local partners concluded the fourth training workshop on fighting Zoonotic diseases in Libya, implemented in the framework of the Emergency Assistance for Outbreaks of Deadly Zoonotic Diseases (Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Rabies outbreaks and Rift Valley fever) along with its local partners.

The University of Tripoli, in collaboration with the National Center of Animal Health of the Libyan Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Marine Resources, organized the training workshop on Epidemiological Surveillance, Good Emergency Management Practices, Communication and Control of Zoonotic Diseases from 29 to 31 October in Alzintan, Libya at the Higher Industrial Institute.

More than 20 participants from the Western region of Libya attended the workshop, coming from Ghadamis, Derj, Wazin, Nalout, Alharaba, Jadou, Alroujban, Alzintan, Alrayaina, Yafrin, Omaljersan, Alasabaa  and Gharian.  

Dr. Zakarya Alkhatal, the Director of National Center of Animal Health and Mr. Ashour Swesi the Coordinator of Agriculture Sector in Gharian City, headed the closing ceremony of the workshop, highlighting the importance of the ongoing collaboration with FAO, and praising the success of these workshop in building the capacity of all libyan veterinarians in detecting these animal diseases, determining their amplitude and fighting them, in addition to good emergency practices management and communication on Animal Health.

The overall program aims at training 80 veterinarians and veterinary assistants, and five awareness workshops are planned to host 30 veterinarians, who will be expected to organize additional awareness sessions to other veterinarians, farmers and consumers, and reach 5000 people.

Trainees will be executing preventive vaccination to dogs against rabies, and conduct field surveys on Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), and Rift Valley fever, in order to achieve effective surveillance and control of zoonotic diseases for protecting humans and animals.

Mohammed Al-Ansi, Officer in Charge of FAO Libya praised the determination of FAO Libyan partners, The University of Tripoli and the National Center of Animal Health, which is contributing efficiently in achieving the goals of this project, funded by the Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) of the United Nations.

CERF had allocated to FAO USD 250 000 to fight Zoonotic diseases in Libya through life-saving activities in various libyan regions, with the aim of responding to zoonotic and transboundary diseases (i.e. Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and Rabies outbreaks and the risk of introduction of Rift Valley fever).