Activities of the WHO/FAO Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Veterinary Public Health
Veterinary public health (VPH) actions in non-epidemic emergencies are one major activity of the WHO/FAO excellence Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Veterinary Public Health at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità.
Such activities have been performed along 37 years in almost all Italian regions and several Countries of Europe (e.g., Spain and Greece), Africa (e.g., Morocco, Tunisia), Asia (e.g., Turkey), Latin America (e.g., Cuba, Mexico) and North America (Canada, U.S.A.).
The CC experts participated in the field intervention during several non-epidemic emergencies, including: earthquakes (e.g., Irpinia-Italy, 1980; Turkey, 1999; Molise-Italy, 2002), floods (e.g., Northern Italy, 2000), landslides (Sarno-Italy, 1998), volcanic eruptions (Etna-Sicily, 1990-2000s), chemical pollutions of pastures and food-producing animals (e.g., Brescia-Italy, 2001).
Membership of the European Centre for Disaster Medicine (CEMEC, San Marino Republic) and assessorship for non-epidemic emergencies to WHO (Geneva headquarter; European Region Office-Copenaghen; Eastern Mediterranean Region Office-Alexandria) have been provided. The CC has established a permanent collaboration in the field of non-epidemic emergencies with Italian Civil Defence; moreover, the CC has also collaborated in several instances with Veterinaires Sans Frontiéres.
The CC is a structure providing scientific and technical advice and training upon request. The VPH activities include
i) the protection of humans from zoonoses and food-connected health risks, as well as from other animal-related problems;
ii) the surveillance of animal health and welfare, and of the economic losses connected with animals;
iii) securing an adequate supply of safe foods of animal origin. This includes iii.a) protection and safety of the foods produced by the involved animals and industries and iii.b) safety of the foods available for the involved population and the helpers
The main strength is possibly the same as the main weakness, i.e., VPH in non-epidemic emergencies is a new discipline which has still to be completely developed; e.g., consequences of energy black-outs and how to deal with them is an unsolved topic. Therefore, even the WHO/FAO CC is one of the main expertise centre, yet, its expertise is still insufficient. Moreover, many decision-makers involved in non-epidemic emergencies are unaware of the aspects related to VPH.
With the speed of industrialization in today’s global community, the costs of disparities in environmental health and risk assessment can be dangerously high in developing countries without broad, stable regulatory and protective measures in place. Addressing capacity-building problems will depend largely upon the implementation of proactive measures within the borders of these developing nations.
“Environmental health issues are national in scope, so it is important that nations cooperate in research, training, and exchange of prevention and remediation technology. All nations, including the African nations, have much to contribute to environmental protection”
Organizations such as the ASTS serve as necessary bridges of communication between developed and developing nations towards the translation of global knowledge into local policy. Forty-seven experts in toxicology research, environmental policy, and government from Cameroon, Nigeria, Sudan, South Africa, the United States, and Europe convened for the purpose of generating ideas for new sustainable development initiatives.
Adapted from:
NIEHS News (2007) Society Builds Sustainability in Africa. Environmental Health Perspectives 115(5):A246
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