THE Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and the Ministry Livestock and Fisheries have reaffirmed their commitment to foster collaboration in the fight against animal diseases that are transmissible to humans.

The partnership includes implementation of the Front-line In-Service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology (ISAVET) Programme, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and focused on enhancing the country’s capacity for animal disease detection, prevention and response, thereby safeguarding the health of both livestock and communities.

Prof Riziki Shemdoe, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries made the remarks in Dar es Salaam on Thursday during the closing ceremony of a four-month training programme for veterinarians organised by FAO and funded by USAID).

During the event, 30 frontline animal health professionals from Mainland and Zanzibar graduated from the ISAVET programme.

Shemdoe said that the government will continue to strengthen networks between partners to improve the animal health surveillance system and facilitate production of high-quality meat for export.

He stated that the skills and competencies gained during the training are crucial, especially in light of the threats posed by emerging and re-emerging infections, most of which are of animal origin.

“I hope that the graduates will be part of the much-needed positive change, committed to enhancing the performance of the animal health delivery system in our country,” he said.

He said animal husbandry plays a vital role in Tanzania’s economy, providing income for a significant percentage of the population.

“As global trade expands, zoonotic diseases increasingly raise concerns worldwide. To tackle these threats, we need collaboration, coordination, communication and concerted action across different sectors,” he added.

Stella Kiambi, Country Team Lead at FAO’s Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD), commended the trainees on their successful completion of the training.

She stated that the first cohort will contribute to a pool of highly competent professionals capable of addressing emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases that threaten humanity.

She noted that zoonotic diseases not only affect human health but also animal welfare, leading to decreased productivity such as compromised milk or egg quality and livestock fatalities that negatively impact farmers’ livelihoods and the national economy.

“It is cheaper to control diseases in animals than in humans. This cohort will therefore be an essential body of expertise for Tanzania,” she added.

Innocent Mrope, a trainee from Masasi District in Mtwara Region, said that the programme equipped him and other trainees with essential skills to help heighten animal disease control.

The training equipped trainees with vital knowledge, including the importance of disease reporting, conducting data quality audits, summarising surveillance data using descriptive epidemiology, applying critical thinking in health information dissemination, ensuring proper biosafety and biosecurity, conducting outbreak investigations and communicating effectively with both technical and non-technical audiences.