Cecilia Samuela-TouAriki, the Ministry for Agriculture Director was among 15 other Pacific representatives in Chiba, Japan last month.

She attended a training on the World Animal Health Information System (WAHIS) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) disease notification.

Samuela-TouAriki said as the Cook Islands focal point within the Ministry of Agriculture, she attended The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) disease notification training in Chiba, Japan from June 21 - 23.

The disease notification training was organised by WOAH in collaboration with the Pacific Community Land Resources Division - Animal Health and Production team.

She said the objective of the training was to enhance understanding of the reporting requirements on animal health and disease using the online World Animal Health Information System – WAHIS. 

“This is an important component of the SAFE Pacific Project to provide assistance and support to Pacific Island Countries (PICs) to increase export capacity of livestock meat and improve economic growth through the protection of local industries and the agriculture sector from exotic and invasive threats of animal disease.”

She said prior to the training in Japan, they participated in an online training programme to familiarise themselves to the WAHIS system.

“This training was important as it outlined the importance of identifying, recording and notifying of an animal disease outbreak in country and provided the appropriate steps to lodge an immediate notification process including the provision of six monthly reports. 

“I found the practical exercises with a variety of scenarios useful including the use of the WAHIS system.  It was great to meet and complete the sessions with the Pacific delegates as we supported each other in the training process.

“My task is now to update our Cook Islands animal disease status on the WAHIS system and maintain regular and updated records.”

She said Dr. Hirofumi Kugita (WOAH Regional Representative for Asia / Pacific), Dr. Jenny Hutchison (Head of the World Animal Health Information and Analysis Department), and SPC counterparts – Elenoa Salele and Dr. Sripad Sosale were present at the training sessions.

Meanwhile, SPC said the training meets the project’s aim of enhancing the Pacific country’s capacity to improve economic growth through the protection of local industries and the agriculture sector from exotic and invasive pests and diseases.            

“The spread of Covid-19, as well as current animal diseases threats like African swine fever and foot and mouth disease, shows us the value of timely disease notification and information sharing for the Pacific,” said SPC’s Animal Health and Production Adviser, Dr Sripad Sosale.

Dr Sosale said monitoring animal health through tracking disease outbreaks – followed by appropriate action is essential for protecting the Pacific’s food security and safeguarding livelihoods.

“The WOAH-WAHIS platform will provide more transparency regarding animal diseases present in the region. It will also foster safe and fair cross-border trade of animals and animal products as well as evidence and risk-based decision-making on animal and public health policies", he said.