Maseru, Jan. 15 — Although Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) Multi-Sectoral Task Team has been established, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food Security and Nutrition still awaits the presence of a Veterinary Epidemiologist, who will lead the team so that it could function effectively.
This was said by the Ministry’s Director Veterinary Field Operations Dr. Mookho Ntiea when stating progress on the establishment of the task team.
She disclosed that the team was established before Christmas holidays and has already convened to draft terms of reference.
However, she said it cannot operate without a Veterinary Epidemiologist as such a person has capacity to amongst others, track, find patterns and causes of spread of livestock diseases.
The FMD Multi-Sectoral Task Team was established as the strategic government initiative to combat FMD, which is reported to be increasing in some neighbouring countries and pose a threat to Lesotho due to her geographical location, trade and cross border movement amongst others.
It comprises the Ministry of Agriculture as Chair. Ministry of Defence and National Security; Local Government, Chieftainship, Home Affairs and Police; Trade and Industry; Disaster Management Authority (DMA) ; Finance and Development Planning, Farmers Associations and Border Control Agencies” she mentioned.
The role of the Ministry of Agriculture will be to provide technical leadership on animal health and FMD control, serve as secretariat and coordinator of the task team as well as to coordinate surveillance, diagnostics, stamping out and vaccination planning. In addition, security and border agencies will provide enforcement of animal movement controls, strengthen border surveillance and patrols as well as to assist in rapid response during outbreaks or high-risk situations.
Moreover, DMA and Finance will coordinate emergency preparedness and response logistics as well as to facilitate mobilisation of resources for preparedness and response.
The country has since banned the importation of livestock and unprocessed meat from South Africa and traders are importing from Namibia and Botswana.
Ends/LP/BM
