FAO Strengthens Preventive Livestock Healthcare for 524 Frontline Teams in West Africa
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has successfully launched an online course titled “Preventive Livestock Healthcare for the Frontline Animal Health Team for West Africa.” This initiative, conducted through the FAO’s Virtual Learning Center for West Africa, ran from January 26 to February 26, 2026. The course aimed to equip veterinary paraprofessionals and veterinarians with practical strategies to transition from reactive disease management to proactive disease prevention, ultimately enhancing productivity in the region.
Course Overview and Participation
A total of 524 participants from both the public and private sectors across West African nations—including Nigeria, Ghana, Cabo Verde, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Liberia, Guinea, Senegal, and Togo—enrolled in the program. The course provided essential technical and social tools aimed at improving farm productivity and community resilience throughout the region.
Spanning four weeks, the course consisted of 24 hours of intensive training delivered in a hybrid format. This flexible approach allowed busy frontline animal health professionals to engage in the course while continuing their field activities. The curriculum combined live webinars, smartphone-compatible self-paced study modules, and interactive discussion forums with tutors. Facilitators included experts from FAO, the University of Edinburgh, and the Veterinary Services of Ghana.
Emphasizing a Proactive Approach
The course promoted a “prevention is better than cure” philosophy, urging veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals (VPPs) to collaborate closely with farming families to mitigate health risks at their source. This emphasis on teamwork between public and private sectors, as well as between animal health professionals and the farming communities they serve, was a core component of the training.
This proactive approach not only enhances animal welfare but also ensures the economic sustainability of animal health businesses and the livelihoods of small-scale producers. The curriculum specifically addressed the needs of private-sector providers, highlighting how a holistic preventive strategy can improve productivity and create long-term value for small-scale livestock producers.
Curriculum and Certification
Participants who successfully completed assessments covering various topics, including biosecurity principles and gender-sensitive extension services, received certificates of completion. Throughout the four-week period, learners explored a comprehensive range of subjects, starting with the economic benefits of preventive care and progressing to gender-responsive service delivery.
The technical core of the course focused on practical biosecurity principles, vaccine and cold chain management, and sustainable strategies for parasite control, including methods to mitigate drug resistance in gastrointestinal nematodes. This comprehensive training equips frontline service providers with the knowledge necessary to enhance their businesses while ensuring the success of the communities they serve.
A Shift in Animal Health Management
This initiative represents a significant shift from reactive “firefighting” to proactive prevention, thereby strengthening regional animal health systems and supporting small-scale producers. Dr. Joseph Abuh from the Veterinary Services of Ghana emphasized the importance of this shift, stating that prevention is foundational to a resilient livestock sector. He noted that by equipping frontline teams with these competencies, animal health services can transform from a cost to a value-adding investment for farmers.
Veterinary officers participating in the course expressed their commitment to advancing resilient animal health systems and contributing to the broader One Health agenda across Nigeria and West Africa. One participant remarked on the essential nature of preventive livestock healthcare for animal welfare, public health, economic stability, and sustainable agricultural development. They expressed gratitude to FAO for this capacity-building initiative and reaffirmed their commitment to applying the insights gained to improve veterinary service delivery and support farming communities.
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Published on 2026-04-29 20:58:00 • By the Editorial Desk
