“Project Improving Delivery of Animal Health Services and Disease Surveillance in Iraq”

A total of 30 veterinarians and animal health officers from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and KRG’s Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources (MoAWR), were trained in a 5 days’ workshop “Clinical Diagnosis and Disease Recognition” in Baghdad from December 19 to 23, 2021, in the context of the  US Defence Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) funded project “Improving Delivery of Animal Health Services and Disease Surveillance in Iraq”, implemented by FAO in collaboration with the MoA with MoAWR.  

The Dean of the Veterinary Medicine college, D. Hameed Ali accompanied by a 5 lecturers along with a number of veterinarians and animal health officers in the sector from Kurdistan region and Iraqi governorates, attended the training sessions, that became increasingly collaborative and interactive, continuously enriched with topics including, Brucellosis, Avian Influenza, Sheep pox and goat pox, Lumpy Skin Disease, Rabies, Peste Des Petitis Ruminants, Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis, Bovine Viral Diarrhea, Foot and Mouth Disease, Bluetongue, Rift Valley Fever, Anthrax and Q Fever.  

In the opening remarks, FAOR in Iraq, D. Salah El Hajj Hassan welcomed the attendees and indicated to the project interventions in the field of animal diseases “The training is to strengthen the capability of the veterinarians and animal health service workers in the areas of investigation, sample collection, examination, testing as well as laboratory diagnosis through sharing information and exchange of expertise to contribute positively in the harmonization of the animal disease identification system across Iraq.

He added, ”We work with partners to eradicate threats related to animal diseases and to limit the risk of animal disease outbreaks through improving capacity in assessing veterinary services and disease reporting systems”.

D. Hameed Ali, the Dean of the Veterinary Medicine College in Baghdad, praised the importance of the scientific cooperation between the Veterinary Medicine College and Food and Agriculture Organization through adapting effective model in training future trainers.

Also he expressed his admiration towards the training, describing it “The workshop was well organized and the approach was very informative, held with the help of qualified professors in the field of veterinary medicine and animal diseases, who have carried out many researches”.

Participants have given a certificate of completion at the conclusion of the training.