The CDSF regional office in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) conducted regional level CIGs Zoonotic Diseases ToT from February 3-4, 2021 in Shashamane town. Topics covered in the training were Commonly known Zoonotic diseases, Transboundary diseases & Production Diseases; the deadly drivers of Emerging Infectious Disease (EID) and pandemics and their impact; One Health Dynamics, the role of women in animal disease management; Symptoms and signs of zoonotic disease on human and livestock & their prevention methods, Livestock Farm Biosecurity and the four staged Capacity Development Frame work and Adult learning principles. The COVID-19 status of the country and the two region as the preventive measures taken, associating COVID 19 as a zoonotic disease, was discussed during the training. In the refresher training 27 male (22 animal health professionals and 5 ZCDOs) participants attended. The participants were drawn from SNNP and Sidama regions. Seven participants were nominated from Sidama region and the remaining 20 were drawn from SNNP region. From the trainees six are private animal health providing experts. The training was conducted by trainers who had previously participated in the national One Health Master ToT in Addis Ababa the week of January 25, 2021.
The training was organized to introduce the animal health officers working in the baseline woredas on the training materials prepared for CIG members and on adult learning techniques to facilitate effectively the kebele level training for farmers and women’s livestock Common Interest groups (CIGs). In addition to awareness-raising, this ToT was organized to share the real experience of animal health experts on COVID 19, major animal diseases, the risks of zoonotic diseases to be transmitted to farmers or their families and communities. Finally, practicable on-farm biosecurity for their prevention strategies followed.
The training was opened by Dr. Birhanu Alemayehu, SNNPR Bureau of Livestock and Fishery Development (BoLFD) Animal Health Director and facilitated by Animal Health Specialist Dr. Demeke Hailu, Dr. Hagere Hatiya and Dr. Biruk Tsegaye, Dr. Mulugeta Tesfay as well as by Ato Debebe Gashawbeza, CDSF SNNP RO RFTL. In his opening speech Dr. Birhanu mentioned that different zoonotic diseases, transboundary animal diseases, and animal production diseases are causing losses of animals, and reduction in productivity of the animals. He mentioned that some zoonotic diseases are becoming more common, but prevention and control is very weak. He said “These diseases are also affecting the production effort of CIGs organized by AGP and some CIGs are becoming nonfunctional due to the incidence of the animal diseases. The integration among the stakeholders who are responsible for preventing/controlling zoonotic diseases is very weak. To make the livestock producing CIGs and other animal owners more fruitful and get good benefit from their effort focusing on animal health is becoming a priority agenda that needs strong collaboration between the public and private partners. After this ToT you will be delivering a more simplified training to the selected CIGs members and I advise you share experience and to have good participation.”
The refresher training was delivered consisting of different training methods: technical presentations, group discussions, instructional videos and applied adult learning principles effectively.
The training was closed by Ato Zeyne Bilka, SNNPR BoLFD Head. Ato Zeyne said that “Creating job for the citizen is one of the most important agenda the government is giving priority. CIGs are one means of job opportunity. Supported by AGP II and aligned projects, many livestock raising CIGs were established and some of these CIGs are more profitable and promoted to primary cooperative, but many of the CIGs are not functional or collapsed. Among the major problems livestock raising CIGs facing, the animal health issue is one important challenge. There are many zoonotic diseases and transboundary animal diseases in the two regions. People are sharing their house for their animals and this created good opportunity for the farmers be attacked by those diseases like brucellosis, TB, rabies, etc. To make these CIGs functional supporting them by solving the animal diseases is curial. Due to the animal diseases the farmers loss their animals, get less product, face a reduction on market value of the product, incur high production cost. Some CIGs are frustrated by the animal diseases they are encountering. I would like to thank CDSF for initiating this program. Though you are getting the training to capacitate the CIG members, since you are serving the whole farming community, I advise you to pass this new approach and high quality material to all livestock raising community. You need to ensure proper biosecurity condition in the CIGs and other farmers. For the training facilitators: as you all are senior regional animal health specialists I would like to advise you to apply the adult learning approach you have learnt from CDSF and the simplified training materials you have been given.” Finally Ato Zeyne promised to provide necessary support to make the program fruitful.
The post training assessment and evaluation of the training that was carried out at the end of the training showed high participant satisfaction and that it enhanced their knowledge and skills.
The private animal health service providers attended the training thanked CDSF for letting them attend this special training with the government experts. They said it is the first event where the public and private service providers sit together and discuss common agenda. They have asked the BoLFD head to establish a public private partnership to enhance the animal health situation of the community.