The Department of livestock Services (DLS) under the Ministry of Agriculture in collaboration with various stakeholders will convey a three days Validation of the Animal Health Bill 2019 in The Gambia.
The three days convergence from the 15th to 17th May 2019 will be supported by African Union –interAfrican- Bureau for Animal Resources (AU-IBAR).
The event will also attract participants from public sector, Veterinary statutory bodies, livestock keepers and traders civil societies, NGOs, with the aim in enhancing livestock policies and animal health legislations for improved technical capability , increased investment ,fostered public –private partnership and better market access.
Speaking to the Director General Department of Livestock DLS ahead of the event Dr. Abdou ceesay explained that the Diseases of Animal Act, 1994 and Gambia Veterinary council Act ,2000 are outdated and do not address current realities in the veterinary domain of The Gambia.
He said the performance of Veterinary Services PVS report , the GAP Analysis Mission Report, the Veterinary Legislation Support Programe (VLSP) Identification Mission report, and the report of the study carried out by a consultant , Hawa Sisay Sabally , revealed gaps in a number of institutional and regulatory areas concerning Veterinary Legislation in the Gambia.
In this regard , According to Dr. Ceesay it was found necessary to work towards updating the above indicated instruments to enable the department of livestock services DLS, Veterinary services VS of The Gambia, to provide better services to the livestock sector.
Currently, it is known that 6 out of every 10 people with a known infectious illness is acquired from animals as well as 75% of people with new or emerging infectious illness originates from animals.
He cited that hence controlling infectious illness in animals will reduce its impact on human health, livelihoods and the environment. Furthermore, the recently conducted livestock census in 2016 revealed that annually 10.14% (29,713 heads) of our national cattle herd (292,837 heads) are exits from our herds. About 5.41% (15,852 heads) of the national herds are exits (deaths) due to diseases with a monetary value of GMD 151,881,499.44 and a total of 1,902.24Metric Tons(MT) of losses in meat annually in The Gambia. Other food animals like sheep, goats, chicken and pigs annual losses due deaths from diseases are 23.37%, 23.87%, 28.36% and 17.03% of the total population respectively.
This is equivalent to a monetary value of GMD 191,740,351.85 and 2,294.75MT of meat losses to national economy and food security respectively.
To this end, the Diseases of Animals Act should be replaced to empower the VS to efficiently carry out its key functions to ensure public safety and promote the public good.
According to Dr. Ceesay “If these areas are not addressed The Gambia will continue to face difficulties in the development of its livestock sector.”
As part of the stages of the elaboration process of an Animal Health Bill to replace the obsolete Diseases of Animal Act, please find attached with this letter the 8th Draft of the above-mentioned Bill for revision and preparation towards a validation workshop in which your institution will be invited as a key stakeholder in the development of the Animal Health Bill.