PAN AFRICAN PROGRAMME FOR THE CONTROL OF EPIZOOTICS SOMALI ECOSYSTEM RINDERPEST ERADICATION COORDINATION UNIT

The Somali Ecosystem Rinderpest Eradication Coordination Unit (SERECU) was established within AU-IBAR to manage and coordinate a time-bound regional program with the end point being the verification of absence of rinderpest infection, and OIE accreditation of rinderpest freedom for the entire Somali Ecosystem (SES) countries. SERECU work-plan and cost estimate funded by the EU through AU-IBAR/PACE was endorsed on 22nd November 2005. After 10 months of operation (1' January to 30 October 2006), an Addendum was prepared and endorsed for an extension phase of 3 months (November 2006 - January 2007). The expected results of the SERECU program were four: • SERECU established and functioning for technical and logistical support to national disease surveillance and control systems n Rinderpest surveillance systems in the Somali ecosystem coordinated and areas of rinderpest infection or freedom clearly delineated based on risk assessment approaches as agreed with concerned countries n Harmonized rinderpest eradication approach applied by veterinary delivery systems in the SES • Final rinderpest eradication strategy prepared, endorsed and coordinated Recognizing coordination between the three SES countries as essential to achieving the above-mentioned result areas, significant efforts have been made to address the issues using a regional approach. This has involved holding cross-border harmonization, technical meetings, and stakeholder workshops; synchronizing surveillance activities within the 3 countries; integrated epidemiological data analysis for disease mapping; and management of interventions such as feedbacks and follow-ups of cross-border disease events. Significant achievements have been made in sensitizing the stakeholders (SES countries) to become more committed to the program and to ensure cooperation during field investigations and integrated epidemiological analysis. Other major achievements include assessment of the current and estimation of the required capacity of the veterinary delivery systems in the SES. In addition, cooperative linkages and productive working relationships have been established with international stakeholders such as FAO GREP, 01E, and International Reference laboratories. Data analyzed from the wide database compiled from the ecosystem by SERECU were discussed in the Joint FAO-GREP/OIE/AU-IBAR workshop on "Accreditation of Rinderpest Freedom in Africa", Accra/Ghana, 29th November-1st December 2006. Overall, there has been significant decrease in sero-prevalence to zero or near zero in Kenya and Ethiopia and few sero-positive clusters in some parts of southern Somalia. The available results are starting to provide confidence that rinderpest is no longer circulating in the SES. The focus then becomes a matter of demonstrating freedom and achieving OIE accreditation of the freedom status, in addition to guarding against any risk of rinderpest resurgence.