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Epidemioiogicai surveillance networks for animal diseases in French-speaking West and Central Africa

Abstract:

One of the objectives of the Pan African Programme for the Control of Epizootics (PACE) was to set up epidemioiogical surveillance networks in African countries. A survey based on a written questionnaire was conducted to review the technical and institutional organisation of epidemiologicai surveillance networks in nine French-speaking countries, including five in West Africa (Senegal, Burkina Faso, Côte d'lvoire, Togo and Guinea) and four in Central Africa (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of Congo and Chad). The survey results showed that there are more similarities than differences among epidemioiogicai surveillance networks. In general, they were found to be technically and institutionally well established. However, the two weaknesses of the majority of networks are the inadequate diagnostic capacity of laboratories and the insufficient operationality of steering committees. Epidemioiogical surveillance should exclusively be the domain of Veterinary Services and it is crucial for ensuring that any change in the health status of an animal population is detected rapidly. However, the networks' continuing survival after external financing ceases is generally not guaranteed because, in many cases, governments fail to fund them adequately.