2294 part 1 final report.pdf - Agra CEAS Consulting

Prevention and control of animal diseases worldwide
Part I: Economic analysis: prevention versus outbreak costs
The FDL&PCS had begun to work on a response to the global threat of HPAI already in 2003. In
anticipation of an eventual HPAI outbreak, in December 2005 a Technical Committee of Experts for
the prevention and control of HPAI was set up. This was actively involved in the development of an HPAI
emergency preparedness plan (for animal health), which was circulated in January 2006 and
reviewed/extended in February 2006 125 (A286). The Plan was drawn following FAO recommendations for
preparing National Animal Disease Emergency Preparedness and Contingency Plans for major TADs and
the Australian Veterinary plan (AUSVETPLAN). It was later to be fine-tuned with Annexes containing
the resource plans, both material and human, as well as Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). The Plan
was supplemented by an action plan for communication and public awareness (social mobilisation). All
these plans were later integrated into a national strategy document. The national policy envisaged control
by stamping-out of infected farms with payment of compensation for birds culled, but excluded
vaccination. Following the February 2006 confirmed outbreaks, an inter-ministerial Steering Committee
of Experts on avian influenza 126 was also set up, and a National Technical Committee on Avian Influenza
for the coordination and implementation of the plan.
Several experts have pointed to the inadequacy of current VS structures (A169, A203, A293, A291).
The available literature and information from sources contacted in Nigeria point to certain deficiencies
that may have aggravated the initial impact of the disease. A major impediment in the early days that the
disease was suspected in Nigeria was considered to be the lack of local/regional testing capability to test
for the disease. This was seen as adding to the delays in confirming and reporting the disease which may
have contributed to the escalation of the spread (A293). Furthermore, although a preparedness plan was in
place this was not considered to be adequate (inter alia due to lack of funding) when the emergency arose
(A169).
International agencies and organisations (including the FAO, OIE, AU-IBAR and the WB) have in various
instances indicated that the overall capacity of the federal as well as of the state VS in handling disease
emergencies to be relatively weak (e.g. A203, A169). Years of under-funding were considered to have led
to a weakening of the system, and a generally dysfunctional chain of command between the central VS
and the field services. An exception appears to be the National Animal Disease Surveillance System
(NADIS), which by adopting a supra-state zonal approach had established good working relationships
with the state veterinary services. For example, the system had been re-oriented to increase surveillance of
suspect mortalities in both domestic and wild fowl.
The country’s capacity in veterinary human resources is considered by the national authorities to be
adequate to detect and control most TADs 127 ; however it is acknowledged that most of the veterinarians
do not have first hand experience with AI this being an emerging disease and that therefore specialised
125 “Strategies for prevention of introduction, disease surveillance networking and the contingency plan for
prevention and control of the HPAI in Nigeria” (A286)
126 The Committee united amongst others, the Federal Ministers of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD),
Health, Information and National Orientation, several State Commissioners for agriculture and health and
stakeholders within the international community (including the WB and WHO).
127 Nigeria has five University veterinary faculties that produce graduate veterinarians; at the time of the HPAI first
outbreaks there were about 4,586 registered veterinarians in addition to 7,810 livestock scientists, laboratory
technologists and animal health auxiliaries in the country.
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