热博体育

The two-day open days event, to be conducted under the PACMAN project at the University of Zimbabwe's Veterinary Science Department, brings together representatives from government officials, farmers, private sector leaders, donor communities, non-governmental organizations, academia, and veterinary research institutions, as well as other key agricultural sector stakeholders. The event will reflect on the platform capacity to play a key role in the control and surveillance of zoonotic diseases with a One Health approach in Zimbabwe. In addition, the event will include laboratory visits and demonstrations of the manipulation of cutting edge equipment for microbiology.

PACMAN is funded by the . This four-year project set up a biotechnology platform to facilitate the control of animal diseases and support the country’s agricultural sector through surveillance and control system for animal, plant and zoonotic diseases. This Platform was formally commissioned in June last year and is being hosted by the UZ’s Faculty of Veterinary Science and welcomed several research and projects like the European Union-funded project under the initiative.

Agriculture in Zimbabwe represents almost 15% of the GDP, more than 30% of export revenues and provides a direct or indirect livelihood for around 70% of the country's population. Zimbabwe is currently facing a food security challenge, due to increased frequency of drought, degradation of arable land and rapid population growth. The livestock sector is threatened by increasing prevalence of animal diseases and needs stronger veterinary systems and a multisectoral (human, animal and environment) approach to better control those diseases and evaluate the risks linked to zoonotic diseases. 
To increase Zimbabwe's ability to meet the needs for better and sustainable diagnosis, monitoring, surveillance, and control of animal diseases, including zoonosis, 热博体育 has been working with the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, the University of Zimbabwe, the French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD).