Minister of Agriculture Chairs Foot-and-Mouth Disease Crisis committee Meeting

The Minister of Agriculture chaired a meeting of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease Crisis committee .
The Iraqi Ministry of Agriculture website reported that the meeting was attended by the Technical Deputy, the Director-General of the Veterinary Department, department directors, directors of veterinary hospitals, and a number of specialists.
The report indicated that the meeting discussed the epidemiological situation in the governorates, especially after the discovery of a number of cases in the Gogjali area of ​​Nineveh Governorate, and the measures taken by the ministry, such as the free distribution of medicines and disinfectants. The meeting emphasized field monitoring and the necessity of the presence of veterinary personnel in the affected areas.
The website reported that the governorates of Baghdad, Babil, and Najaf witnessed a clear decline in infections, as no cases were recorded in the past few days. The meeting also discussed the most prominent challenges facing the ministry, including the shortage of veterinary personnel and limited financial allocations. It’s clear from the experiences of some countries that the role of government alone is insufficient to overcome animal health crises and disease outbreaks. Rather, it’s a complex issue involving relevant government sectors, research and academic bodies, and supported by private sector companies, unions, and non-governmental organizations. We must not forget the role of the media, press, and social media platforms, which can play a positive role in this issue.