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Food security and animal health remain among the biggest challenges facing Angola, Africa’s second largest oil exporter. The Strengthening Livestock Services in Angola (SANGA) project, led by FAO and co-funded by the European Union and the Angolan Institute of Veterinary Services, aims to close gaps in the provision of livestock services by addressing animal production and health issues. Within the framework of its mandate, FAO is developing a new, unprecedented animal health system for Angola, based on a public-private partnership between the Institute of Veterinary Services (public) and animal health auxiliaries (private). Livestock is extremely important to the Angolan people. For many communities, livestock is the main source of income and food security. The project will contribute to the development of agricultural innovation strategies and the training of around 120 animal health auxiliaries and more than 20 veterinary technicians.
In 2000, Angola signed the Millennium Declaration along with 190 other countries, stating its goal to halve poverty by 2015, provide food for all families and provide education for all children.
Under the FAO/EU project, livestock keepers, animal health support staff and veterinary technicians received technical assistance and short-term training, both of which are vital for developing agriculture and food security.
The lack of reliable veterinary services, combined with conflict-related security concerns and natural disasters, puts the livelihoods of many livestock keepers at risk – both of which are key to agricultural development and food security.
In Angola, animal health assistance agencies (“Tratadores de Gado” in Portuguese) work in animal husbandry at the municipal level, networking with breeders. They carry out their duties under the supervision of public veterinary technicians at the county level.
This veterinary support model is based on the professional and commercial skills of the breeders. “Tratadores de Gado” can carry out their own veterinary activities by providing breeders with advice on animal treatment and selling veterinary medicines.
To ensure that this new system was efficient and economically sustainable, the “Tratadores de Gado” had to be trained and develop a range of different skills.
In addition, the SANGA project provides a set of veterinary medicines and tools to the “Tratadores de Gado” to strengthen their commercial activities.
Towards sustainable development
The system can only be sustained if the “Tratadores de Gado” are paid by the breeders for their services, and in the past the system has relied heavily on government subsidies.
FAO is working to raise awareness of the potential benefits of engaging pastoralists, including improved quality of veterinary services and increased availability of medicines in veterinary support systems.
Currently, deliveries of medications are made through a network of veterinary pharmacies equipped with solar-powered cooling systems.
More resilient and productive livestock systems
In the past few months, we have carried out several activities: 15 municipal veterinary pharmacies have been rehabilitated and equipped, solar energy systems have been installed in cold rooms in Cunene and Lubango, and solar refrigerators have been provided to other pharmacies to store vaccines.
As the project draws to a close, the veterinary tools are being disseminated to pharmacies in various municipalities, providing herders with the right tools to treat their animals.
In addition, international experts collaborate with ISV technicians to monitor capital compensation (provided through veterinary drugs and tools).
The project is Angola’s first effort to establish a network of veterinary services at municipal level, with the aim of improving livestock productivity and the resilience of pastoral communities.
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