Pan-African Programme for the Control of Epizootics
Project Brief/Background
The PACE programme was the successor of the earlier Joint Programme No. 15 (JP15) (1962-1976) and the Pan African Rinderpest Campaign (PARC, 1986-1998) projects, aimed at eradicating rinderpest from Africa. The evaluation of PARC undertaken in 1996 recommended a continuation of the programme and subsequently, various preparatory and formulation missions were undertaken during 1997 and 1998.
This culminated in the formulation of PACE. The main objective of the Programme was to consolidate the achievements of rinderpest eradication and take further steps in the control major epizootic diseases. The ultimate goal of PACE was to contribute to poverty alleviation of the African livestock producers.
Considering the importance of PACE outputs, an extension of the Programme for a period of two years was recommended, starting at the end of October 2004.
The spirit of the PACE programme was in compliance with the orientations of the new cooperation agreements between Europe and the ACP Countries (Cotonou Agreements).
The Programme was in harmony with up to date animal health and economic interests in terms of globalisation and catered for capacity building and the development of veterinary services and food hygiene services in Africa so as to ensure their compliance with international standards as defined by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE).
The Community-based Animal Health and Participatory Epidemiology (CAPE, 2000-2004) project – funded by DFID was an integral part of PACE.
Rationale
The PACE programme was a major development programme financed by the European Development Fund (EDF) in the field of animal health in Africa covering 32 African countries. The programme aimed at building upon the headway made in the campaign against rinderpest in order to establish lower-cost national and continental epidemio-surveillance networks, for the main animal diseases, provide the countries with the capacities needed to organise economically and technically justified control programmes and develop the effective and sustainable distribution of veterinary products and services.
The programme included national operations planned and implemented in each country and also sub-regional and regional support and co-ordination components. PACE was coordinated by AU-IBAR. The organisational chart of the PACE included a Programme Coordination Unit in Nairobi, Kenya and two regional coordination Units in Bamako, Mali for West and Central Africa and Nairobi, Kenya for Eastern Africa. The PACE programme therefore offered a firm basis for eradicating rinderpest from Africa and controlling other major diseases.
Outcomes/Objectives
The main expected results are:
- Eradication of rinderpest from the African continent in verifiable manner, in particular from west and central Africaduring the extension period is achieved.
- Rinderpest eradication strategy for the Somali ecosystem completed.
- Opportunity and support for the private sector to effectively participate in the delivery of veterinary services at countrylevel enhanced.
- Institutional capacity strengthened at IBAR and at country level.
The overall objective of PACE during the extension phase remains as initially planned in the financing agreement. That is to say, relieve poverty of those involved in the livestock-farming sector (producers, service providers and consumers) in Africa by improving animal productivity, trade and food security, so as to ensure:
- Sustainability and uptake of networks for the surveillance of animal diseases
- Capacity building at AU-IBAR
- Eradication of rinderpest
- Strengthening the private sector and services it deliver to the livestock owners
Achievements
The main achievements of PACE are outlined as follows:
Eradication of RP and control of major epizootics
- Twenty-seven (27) countries have made progress along the OIE pathway for the eradication of rinderpest. ; 16 are recognized as free from the disease, out of them 4 are recognised free from rinderpest infection.
- 26 Countries have submitted their emergency plans for rinderpest and the Director of AU-IBAR has approved 18 of these plans.
- A structure called Somali Ecosystem Rinderpest Eradication Coordination Unit (SERECU) has been established and the strategy plan developed to ensure the final eradication of rinderpest from the presumed remaining last foci from the world. Participatory disease searching (PDS) as a special application of participatory epidemiology method was developed and is successfully being used for the detection of mild form of rinderpest in the Somali ecosystem.
- The capacity for monitoring wildlife disease and undertaking sero-surveys (particularly in relation to rinderpest) has been established in East Africa and there is improved awareness of the methodology in West and Central Africa.
- Jointly with FAO/GREP and IAEA, the Epidemiology Unit of PACE has updated the existing guidelines for the laboratory confirmation of rinderpest and this document has been distributed to PACE member countries.
- Functional epidemio-surveillance systems have been established and are operational in 29 out of the 30 PACE member countries, and performance indicators have been developed for their assessment.
- Regional reference laboratories were identified, assessed and MoU signed between these and AU-IBAR.
- There has been an important improvement in disease reporting rates to both AU-IBAR (from 8.01% in 2000 to 67.9% by the end of 2004) and OIE (59.3% in 2000 to 78.1% by the end of 2004) from the African countries.
- The Pan African Animal Health Yearbook publication has been revitalized. Two issues have been published both in English and French and widely distributed. The third issue will be released soon.
- Economic analysis modules, developed under PARC and improved under PACE, have been transferred to the PACE member countries.
Establishment of the Information and Communication Services- Capacity building programme
- A multi-user, multi-level, multi-lingual and integrated animal resources information management tool named Animal Resources Information System (ARIS) has been developed and introduced to 28 countries. Over 100 staff members in these countries trained on the operation and use of this database.
- A Website (www.au-ibar.org) is developed and launched in April 2003. The site is being updated regularly.
- A Local Area Network supporting 73 users established.
- Internet connectivity improved by introducing lease-line using two-satellite link (VSAT).
- At least 13 countries are publishing their surveillance findings on bulletins and newsletters on quarterly basis.
- Two rounds of regional trainings on data management and Geographical Information Systems (GIS) conducted; 28 staff members from 25 countries benefited.
- Communication strategies have been developed in participating countries.
- Various papers were produced and training conducted by the different units in countries.
- Data collection and reporting procedures harmonised with international organizations.
Development of a sustainable AU-IBAR follow-up PACE Programme
The aim of the programme, will be to enable PACE member states to maintain active surveillance of major diseases, which will assist the strategic control of priority diseases at national and regional level.
The post PACE programme will address key crosscutting issues that are, strengthening of national epidemio-surveillance by establishing efficient disease surveillance networks, promote trade, marketing of livestock and livestock products and institute a reliable and transparent information network. This obviously will rely on other initiatives emanating from other programmes or projects.