EU-funded project to eradicate animal disease in Bosnia and Herzegovina completed

The closing conference of the two-year EU funded project “Technical Assistance in Coordination of Animal Disease Control and Eradication Programme in Bosnia and Herzegovina – Phase III” was held on 21 March 2017 in Sarajevo. This project was funded by the EU through the Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance (IPA 2012) in the amount of 593,530.00 EUR.

The project has supported the veterinary sector in BiH and contributed to the effective implementation of measures and control of rabies and brucellosis in the country. The importance of control, monitoring and eradication of animal diseases was underlined on this occasion. The conference also pointed out to the benefits of technical and financial assistance of the EU to the veterinary sector in BiH in preparing the country for EU membership through organization of various trainings, professional trainings, study visits and conferences during the project lifetime.

Andrea Marco Vera, Head of the Economic Development, Infrastructure and Natural Resources in the EU Delegation to BiH, said that this project is part of a larger animal diseases control and prevention programme that the EU has financed over the past 10 years in the amount of 10 million EUR. He also stressed the importance of this project to maintain and improve regional cooperation among veterinary services. “Control and eradication of animal diseases and zoonoses require coordinated implementation of activities since the entire area of the Western Balkans can be considered as one epidemiological area. Last trends have shown very good results, but also the need for the continuation of initiated activities. It is essential to adopt a Multi-annual programs made for control and eradication of brucellosis and rabies by the competent veterinary authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina.”

“This project was very important for veterinary services in Bosnia and Herzegovina primarily because the project did a series of analyses of the current situation regarding the control and prevention of rabies and brucellosis in the country. In addition, there were also training activities for staff members who are directly or indirectly involved in the issue of control of mentioned diseases, i.e. veterinary inspectors, veterinarians, hunters, farmers and laboratory personnel. The analysis of program for control of brucellosis in small ruminants and rabies, which were conducted in previous years, detected all the problems that have been identified in these programs. Accordingly, new Multi-year programs of brucellosis control in small ruminants and rabies were created which also established a better and more effective ways to control these diseases. These programs will be the basis for all future activities on this issue, and BiH Veterinary Office will coordinate the implementation of these programs. I would like to use this opportunity to thank the EU Delegation to BiH for its support so far and hope for future cooperation on similar projects.” said Ljubomir Kalaba, Director of Veterinary Office of BiH.

Among other project results are the Multi-annual plan for control and eradication of rabies 2017 -2022 and Multi-annual program for control and eradication of brucellosis in small ruminants 2017-2021 prepared by the project experts, in cooperation with the Veterinary Office of BiH, as the leading beneficiary institution.

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