The
apex body of Women in Poultry Value Chain (WIPVaC) have called for a dialogue
between the Veterinary Service Department (VSD) and the Food and Drugs Authority
(FDA) to ensure a successful implementation of the ECOWAS veterinary
pharmaceutical protocols on livestock.
The
national president of WIPVaC, Victoria Norgbey, in an interview during a post
dialogue meeting on the ECOWAS Veterinary pharmaceutical protocol in Accra, observed
that the Public Health Act (Act 2012) gives part of the protocol implementation
to FDA while at the same time gives some of the responsibility to VSD so there
is the need to meet and define the roles and ensure harmonization.
“The
two institutions need to meet to define roles and come to agreement for proper
harmonization because the essence of the protocol is to harmonize the use of drugs
and biologicals in the sub-region,” she proposed.
Norgbey
explained that successful implementation of this protocol will safeguard the
interest of livestock farmers, veterinary authorities and the general public
against adulteration, misleading claims and inappropriate use of veterinary
products which also affects human health as well as facilitate inter and
intra-state trade in veterinary drugs and biologicals through implementation of
principles and rules mutually agreed at sub-regional level to dismantle trade
barriers. This will ensure that “mortality rate of animals would be limited
thereby safeguarding the interest of the farmers,” Norgbey stressed.
She
added that it will also help facilitate local production of quality veterinary
drugs and biologicals, facilitate timely and convenient access by livestock
farmers and veterinary authorities to quality veterinary drugs and biologicals
and encourage private investment in the veterinary drugs and biologics industry.
The association hinted that it will continue to undertake sensitization activities
for all stakeholders to intensify awareness of the protocol.
The
one day post dialogue meeting on the ECOWAS Veterinary pharmaceutical protocols
on livestock was held to discuss the way forward for the implementation of the
protocols. At the meeting, the poultry farmers were enlightened by the legal on
what to do ensure a successful implementation of the protocol. The meeting was
attended by almost all stakeholders including the Ministry of Agriculture, the Veterinary
Service Department, the Veterinary council among others.
BUSAC-led
advocacy
In
2019, WIPVaC with support from BUSAC Funds and its donors, DANIDA and USAID,
started advocacy activities and public sensitization for the speedy
implementation of the ECOWAS Veterinary Pharmacy Protocol in Ghana. The USDA
through its Ghana Poultry Project (GPP) has also supported the association.
Norgbey explained that WIPVAC’s work
involved establishing a livestock sector coordination unit to harmonize the advocacy
that is reviewing the status of the protocol and carrying out stakeholder
consultations and dialogue sessions.
The
WIPVAC-Apex believes that the government’s agricultural productivity programs
such Rearing for Food and Jobs stand to increase its impact with the protocol
being implemented. “Animal health is human health; hence the implementation of
the protocol is now,” she stressed.
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