Animal health group pushes vaccine access
By Effie Mphande
The World Organisation for Animal Health -WOAH- says it is working with member states to improve access to vaccines.
WOAH Antimicrobial Resistance Technical Officer for Eastern Africa JANE LWOYERO says this is in support of commitment made by member states at the United Nations General Assembly to embrace vaccination of animals against diseases by 2030.
Dr. LWOYERO was speaking in an interview with ZNBC news in Yaoundé – Cameroon on the sidelines of the commemoration of the Continental World Antimicrobial Resistance.
She said the World Organisation for Animal Health has already come up with a list of animal diseases in which vaccines would help reduce the need to use certain medicines.
And in a separate interview, Food and Agriculture Organisation -FAO- Regional Office for Africa Senior Animal Production and Health Officer MOHAMMED SHAMSUDDIN urged governments to create a conducive environment to encourage the private sector to invest in the fight against Antimicrobial resistance.
Meanwhile, World Health Organization Regional Office for Africa Antimicrobial Resistance Team Leader ALI AHMED YAHAYA said the WHO has developed guidelines and tools for member states to harmonise surveillance of Antimicrobial resistance in the region.
Dr. YAHAYA said WHO has also created an electronic platform, which will enable member states to understand trends of Antimicrobial Resistance and consider using effective antibiotics to treat infections.
