- improved surveillance and monitoring of animal diseases
THE Ministry of Agriculture will benefit from technical assistance from the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) to Guyana’s animal production system and to undertake an overview of its food safety chain.

According to a release from the Ministry, this was revealed during recent discussions between WOAH Regional Representative, Dr. Luis Osvaldo Barcos and Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud.

The objective of the visit to Guyana by Dr. Barcos is to ensure linkages with the Wildlife Collaboration Centre in Canada to aid in wildlife research and surveillance, and the development of a surveillance system for foot and mouth disease, rabies and tuberculosis.

The release said the discussions centred on the development of the Ministry’s Veterinary Service with the strengthening of Guyana’s animal and production system with a visit of experts from the World Organisation for Animal Health.

Persaud during his interaction with Dr. Barcos pointed out that the

Ministry has 14 veterinary officers and welcomed the assistance from

WOAH to provide additional training and technical support as the veterinary service is critical to the development of the livestock sector, especially against the backdrop of the global increase of food prices, he emphasised.

Dr. Barcos expressed the WOAH commitment to provide technical assistance, surveillance, training and restructuring of the Ministry’s

Veterinary Services.

He added that the WOAH is a worldwide organisation whose principal mandate is to harmonise veterinary services worldwide to develop animal health guidelines which will assist member countries to develop specific animal health plans.

WOAH is comprised of 172 member countries of which Guyana is a member and is represented by Dr. Dwight Waldron, Programme Director, National Dairy Development Programme. Guyana is certified by OIE Free of Foot and Mouth Disease, which allows for export of beef and beef products.