FAO improves Animal Health Services and Disease Surveillance in Iraq

Baghdad, Iraq - 10 November 2023 - In a significant step towards improving animal health services and animal disease diagnosis in Iraq, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA) and the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources-KRI (MoAWR-KRI), has launched the “Regular Maintenance for Equipment Operation and Calibration Workshop” in Iraq.  This is the final workshop in a comprehensive training programme consisting of seventeen workshops that took place between December 2021 and November 2023.  

The project entitled “Improving Delivery of Animal Health Services and Disease Surveillance in Iraq “is funded by the United States Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA).

The workshop held at the Central Veterinary Laboratory/Veterinary Directorate in Baghdad, from 5th to 9th November 2023, convened twenty-four participants from the veterinary laboratories of Baghdad, Erbil, Duhok, Ninawa, Muthanna, Basra, Anbar, and Wassit.

The training aimed to assist participants in operating veterinary laboratory equipment smoothly and reliably. This will help to implement a quality control procedure, test accuracy and increase the shelf life of all equipment.

The workshop covered the composition, levels of maintenance (preventive and corrective maintenance) and calibration of various laboratory equipment. Theorical discussions were followed by practical sessions, where participants gained hands-on experience in level one and level two maintenance, equipment management, facility and tool requirements.

This training will equip participants with the knowledge, skills and procedures required   for safe and proper operation use, care and maintenance of equipment. This will prevent breakdowns or malfunctions and ensure accurate and reliable results.

The workshop also focused on the regular and routine action taken on equipment through systematic component testing, measurements, adjustments, calibrations, parts replacement, and cleaning.

During the opening session, FAO Representative in Iraq, Dr. Salah El Hajj Hassan, stressed that, “the accurate diagnosis of animal diseases can be ensured in well-equipped laboratories with a range of standardized fully functional diagnostic equipment operated by experienced staff. This can be achieved by improving the skills of laboratory staff for the proper, safe use, care and maintenance of equipment and facilities”.

This initiative embodies FAO's commitment to the One Health approach, linking human, animal, and environmental health. By improving animal health services and laboratory equipment, and fostering partnerships, it advances several SDGs, including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), supporting FAO's mission for a healthier, more sustainable Iraq.