Livestock authority collaboration reaping benefits
DPI, Guyana, Monday, August 13, 2018
The Guyana Livestock Development Authority’s (GLDA) membership in regional and international bodies has seen increased capacity in its veterinary diagnostic laboratory and other services.
Head of Animal Health Unit of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), Dr. Colbert Bowen
According to the Head of the Animal Health Unit at the GLDA, Dr. Colbert Bowen, the Veterinary Diagnostic laboratory now has increased capacity following recent training and collaboration. Dr. Bowen says the agency’s membership in the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) was instrumental in developing that capacity.
“We are a member of the OIE. In terms of regional organisation, we are a member of Caribbean Animal Health Network, CaribVET organisation, PANAFTOSA which is the Pan American Foot and Mouth Disease centre located in Brazil. They lend support and they are responsible for coordinating activities in relation to foot and mouth (FND) disease in terms of diagnosis,” Dr. Bowen told the Department of Public Information (DPI).
He added that training opportunities, through the agency’s collaboration with regional and international organisations, equipped personnel with modern methods of monitoring and dealing with diseases across the livestock sector.
“We have recently benefitted from the training in the use of GIS in disease mapping. they render assistance in terms of training in terms of FND control and I think they are ready in case of any particular FND outbreak to send personnel to guide us and to work with us in terms of dealing with a probable outbreak of FND.”
The GLDA is an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture. Its main function is to provide support and other services to the livestock industry. Its services include but are not limited to veterinary, artificial insemination and advisory services.
Recently, the agency had cause to deploy its personnel in the Region One, Mabaruma Sub-district for the purpose of monitoring and evaluating the movements of animal and animal products in an effort to prevent the spread of vesicular diseases confirmed in neighbouring Venezuela.
Kidackie Amsterdam
Image: Department of Public Information