Report - Middle East - OIE

Session – 4 Communication capacity of the Veterinary Services in the Region
The case of UAE
Ms Sumaia Al Rais, Director of Plant and Animal Health, Ministry of Environment and Water,
UAE
Under the authority of the Executive director of agriculture& animal affairs of the Ministry of
Environment and Wealth, a communication unit is in charge of the implementation of
communication and awareness actions.
A common logo is used as a symbol on all material information for every campaign and to
build credibility.
Communication actions relies on the participation of all relevant actors such as relevant
ministries, local authorities, farmers, companies, laboratories, communication media and
veterinary doctors.
The communication actions are implemented on a multi-level basis and mainly focused on
risk awareness, with regular updates. The level and stage of disease can change with time,
and therefore the communication plan must constantly evolve to keep pace with the change,
to address the identified risks and fill gaps.
The AI crisis was the opportunity to develop communications actions using several tools such
as the national press, the national television and radio, brochures or leaflets, electronic
mailing and field visits.
The major gaps identified of VS communication are:
• Lack of communication between some of the relevant actors;
• a lack of resources allocated to the field of communications.
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OIE Regional Seminar on Communication for Veterinary Services – Muscat, Oman, 20-22 April 2010 23/45