DOHA: Qatar is hosting the 10th Conference of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) Regional Commission for the Middle East from October 26 to 29 at the Grand Regency Hotel.
Announcing the event during a press briefing yesterday at the Ministry of Environment, Dr Kassem Nasser Al Qahtani (pictured), who currently heads the OIE Middle East Regional Committee, said this is the first time Qatar will be the venue for the conference and also the first time Qatar has become the head of the committee.
Al Qahtani said around 70 representatives from 21 Middle East member countries will arrive in Doha for the convention which will tackle pressing issues confronting animal health in the region. "Originally, only 40 representatives were supposed to join the conference but the number increased to 70 due to the overwhelming interest from different groups who wanted to attend," said Al Qahtani.
Some of the relevant topics included in the agenda are: the animal health status in the region, strategic plan of the OIE for strengthening veterinary services capabilities, comprehensive programme in controlling Brucellosis, and activities of the Regional Animal Health Center (RAHC).
Beefing up the ability of laboratories for animal and animal products testing and eradicating animal diseases are some of the challenges being faced in the region, according to Al Qahtani.
He also mentioned Qatar has been very proactive in the issue through its extensive registration and identification of animals and vaccination. "Around 95 percent of the thousands of animals in Qatar including camels, goats and cows have already been registered and identified," he informed.
Representatives of other international organizations are also flying to Doha for the event including World Health Organization, Food and Agriculture Organisation, US Department of Agriculture, World Society for the Protection of Animals, Arab Organisation for Agricultural Development and the African Union.
Founded in 1924 under the name Office des Epizooties (OIE), the organisation is an international intergovernmental unit aimed at coordinating international cooperation for the control of animal diseases.
By Raynald Rivera
© The Peninsula 2009
