Public-private partnerships for Progressive Control of foot-and-mouth disease in endemic settings

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The joint GFRA/EuFMD Regional workshop for Africa was held on 16th and 17th February 2022.

 

This is the third joint regional virtual meeting hosted as a collaboration between the EuFMD and GFRA, two leading organizations focused on foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) research and control measures. This is part of a continuous effort to connect FMD research groups all over the world, regulation agencies, funding organizations, and the private sector.  We believe that sharing knowledge, experiences, and novel developments is paramount to progress global FMD control.

 

​This workshop was run as two hour sessions over two days and focused on challenges that may be unique to Africa to work towards the control of foot-and-mouth disease. The talks were followed by a roundtable discussion where speakers were invited to seek clarification and share their experience and viewpoints from their countries/regions. Over the two sessions, topics were:

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Day 1: Vaccine quality, availability and accessibility

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• Research in Africa to support vaccine quality

• Importance of independent vaccine quality control

• PPP and FMD vaccines

• Role of stakeholders to distribute and apply FMD vaccines

• Pre-qualification system for FMD vaccines in support to assured emergency supply options

 

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Day 2: Competencies to support FMD surveillance and control (including private vets and paravets)

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• FMD surveillance in endemic areas

• VPP competencies and skills for an improved surveillance

• Research needs for improved surveillance in Africa

• Overview of Progressive Control Pathway, related training needs and opportunities

 

Our vision was and still is to bring together researchers, policy makers and implementers interested and involved in FMD control to share their knowledge, experience and ideas.