The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries will publicise the findings of an evaluation on the national Veterinary Services conducted by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) Performance of Veterinary Services evaluation team.
After studying the recommendations, DAFF is convinced about the accuracy of the information and sees the need to inform the public of the findings of the evaluation.
The evaluation, authorised by the World Organization for Animal Health, was conducted in October 2012 to ensure that the national Veterinary Services achieved their objectives and were able to comply with the OIE international standards. The OIE has developed a PVS Pathway.
The PVS Pathway is designed to assist Veterinary Services to determine the baseline of performance and identify gaps in their ability to comply with OIE international standards. The Performance Veterinary Services Pathway comprises an “Evaluation”, “Gap analysis” and ongoing support for country specific interventions.
The South African Veterinary Services has over a number of years managed major animal disease issues and events which impacted on the industry and economy of the country. A ban on the export of red meat, following an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) in 2011 was imposed. However, after coping with the challenges, South Africa regained its official FMD-free zone status on 14 February 2014.
The ostrich industry also suffered an outbreak of avian influenza and is facing challenges in trying to control the disease. Diseases such as classical swine fever, avian influenza, and Rift Valley fever also illustrate the challenges that the South African Veterinary Services is experiencing.
Endemic livestock diseases, including tick borne diseases (heartwater, redwater, anaplasmosis, etc.), lumpy-skin disease, sheep scab, Newcastle disease, bluetongue and others, continue to have a significant impact on farmers and livestock industries.
Following issues pertaining to the FMD outbreak in the Jozini area of KwaZulu-Natal in 2011 and avian influenza in the Oudtshoorn district in the Western Cape, South Africa requested the OIE to conduct the PVS evaluation. This request was endorsed by the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, reflecting the high priority of improving the national Veterinary Services.
South Africa takes into consideration the OIE PVS evaluation findings in the development of a high-level veterinary strategy in order to improve the Veterinary Services. The stakeholders and members of the public can access the OIE Report on www.daff.gov.za.
The department will be hosting the OIE PVS mission from 17 to 27 June 2014. Owing to the time restrictions, the team proposed that the Department hosts a workshop with stakeholders where two representatives per organisation will be allowed to attend this workshop. The workshop is scheduled for 04 June 2014, for the country to look into the recommendations at a venue still to be announced at a later date. Confirmations must please be sent to Dr Romona Naidoo: Romonan@daff.gov.za.
For more information:
Ms Makenosi Maroo
Chief Director: Stakeholder Relations and Communications
Cell: 072 475 2956
Tel: 012 319 6787
Email: MakenosiM@daff.gov.za
