Accra - Ghana — A meeting of stakeholders in the veterinary services of ECOWAS Member States is underway in Accra, Ghana to agree a coordinated surveillance and laboratory- based mechanism for the prevention and control of trans-boundary animal diseases as part of efforts to improve the quality of livestock in the region.

The six-day meeting which opened on Monday, 2nd April 2012, follows the decision of the 65th ECOWAS Council of Ministers meeting of November 2010, which adopted three regulations towards ensuring improved sanitary health in the region's agriculture sector, especially livestock.

The Accra meeting will also develop a template for disease reporting in the region consistent with international best practices and the regional agricultural policy to feed into ECOAGRIS, the regional agriculture information system as well as other disease reporting systems. Directors of veterinary services, heads of veterinary laboratories, producer organisations, resource persons, experts and ECOWAS staff are attending the meeting which will also develop regional positions on issues affecting the sector for international meetings, particularly the forthcoming meetings in Nairobi and Paris on the livestock sector.

Specifically, participants will take stock of the animal health situation in the region; develop a coordinated regional strategy for epi-surveillance and harmonized laboratory procedures for the prevention and control of animal diseases; and also formulate a regional animal health reporting.