Dr. Hamad Al-Aqnass, head of Egypt's General Organization for Veterinary Services, recently participated in high-level international events organized by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, Italy. The meetings aimed to enhance food security, develop veterinary services, and improve Egypt's preparedness to face animal diseases and pandemics. This aligns with directives from Agriculture Minister Alaa Farouk to boost Egypt's animal production sustainability and human and animal health.
During his visit, Al-Aqnass attended the Global One Health Conference in Agricultural and Food Systems. The conference discussed investing in prevention, preparedness, and response systems for epidemics, with participation from international ministers, officials, and experts. This allowed Al-Aqnass to learn about the latest global trends and build partnerships with international institutions concerned with animal health.
Al-Aqnass also spoke at the global event for the Pandemic Fund, focusing on transforming investments into sustainable impacts at the country level. He highlighted the challenges facing epidemic surveillance systems, particularly in border areas, and emphasized the importance of enhancing regional coordination, developing early warning systems, and engaging local communities in disease prevention and response efforts.
On the sidelines of the events, Al-Aqnass held a bilateral meeting with FAO officials to review the implementation status of the Pandemic Fund project in Egypt. They agreed on procedures to improve execution efficiency and enhance the role of the General Organization for Veterinary Services, with continued technical and administrative coordination in the coming stages.
Al-Aqnass conducted a technical tour of the IZS Teramo Institute, a prominent European veterinary reference center. He learned about the latest technologies in laboratory diagnosis, artificial intelligence, and surveillance and early warning systems. The visit explored opportunities for scientific and technical cooperation between the two parties.
The visit resulted in an agreement to prepare a joint cooperation protocol, including technology transfer, digital information system development, laboratory diagnosis capacity enhancement, and joint training and research programs. This aims to support Egypt's animal sector and improve its efficiency.
The efforts of Al-Aqnass and the FAO reflect Egypt's commitment to enhancing its veterinary services and preparedness for animal diseases and pandemics. Strengthening these capabilities is crucial for maintaining animal health, supporting sustainable production, and ensuring human well-being.
Key points
- Egypt's veterinary services head meets with FAO to enhance disease preparedness
- Agreement reached to develop joint cooperation protocol with IZS Teramo Institute
- Egypt aims to boost animal production sustainability and human and animal health
