Maputo, 22 Jul (AIM) – Mozambican President Daniel Chapo bets on animal health as a crucial pillar for ensuring food safety to protect the public health.
Speaking at a meeting held on Tuesday, in Maputo, with the country’s Veterinarians Association (OMVM), the President advocated for a partnership between the government and OMVM, announcing the organization’s inclusion in the future Technical-Scientific Council of the General Inspectorate for Food and Economic Safety (IGSAE).
According to Chapo, animal health is directly linked to human health and the quality of food consumed by the population. “If the animal is sick, the human being is consequently sick as well.
We support ‘One Health’ approach, as it integrates human, animal, and environmental health”, he said.
The President also explained that transforming the former National Inspectorate of Economic Activities (INAE) into the IGSAE demonstrates the government’s priority of strengthening food safety, with animal health considered a fundamental pillar of this mission.
According to Chapo, the technical expertise of veterinarians will be crucial in areas such as the monitoring of slaughterhouses, meat, milk, fish, animal transport, and the marketing of animal-derived products, as well as in preventing epidemiological risks and strengthening food traceability.
The President also called for close cooperation between the government and the organization to combat the illegal practice of the profession, ensure the continuous training of professionals, and build the capacity of food safety inspectors.
“We are strategic partners for good human health. And that human health begins with good animal health. Regarding the concerns raised by the profession, the government would monitor the process of establishing a formal career path for veterinarians within the Public Administration”, he said.
“We will work to understand the current status of this process. There certainly needs to be a career structure. We want better conditions to encourage young veterinarians to settle in rural areas, acknowledging the importance of livestock farming for household income and the country’s economic development”, he said.
For her part, Ana Flávia Azinheira, head of OMVM, described the meeting as a historic milestone for the profession, noting that it was the first time a head of the State had officially received representatives of the veterinary community.
She advocated for the approval of a formal veterinary career path, the strengthening of veterinary authority, the effective adoption of the “One Health” approach as state policy, the resumption of domestic vaccine production, and the creation of incentives for practicing the profession in rural areas.
“Investing in veterinary medicine means simultaneously strengthening public health, food security, agricultural and livestock production, biodiversity conservation, and Mozambique’s economic development”, she said.
(AIM)
PC/Am/
