Meeting to Accelerate Prevention and Control of Neglected Foodborne Parasitic Zoonoses in Selected Asian Countries, Luang Prabang, Lao People's Democratic Republic, 16-18 October 2018 : meeting report
Overview
The Meeting to Accelerate Prevention and Control of Neglected Foodborne Parasitic Zoonoses in Selected Asian Countries was held in Luang Prabang, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, on 16-18 October 2018. In addition to nine temporary advisers, the meeting was attended by: 40 national focal points of neglected tropical diseases, animal health, food safety, and water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) programmes from 14 countries; representatives from seven partner agencies; and 16 representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) at global, regional and country levels.
The meeting provided valuable opportunities to bring together different sectors involved in the prevention and control of neglected foodborne parasitic zoonoses – public health, animal health, food safety, and WASH. The meeting participants shared insights, experiences and updates on new guidance and development to accelerate the prevention and control of neglected foodborne parasitic zoonoses, particularly taeniasis/cysticercosis, echinococcosis and foodborne trematode infections. The meeting also included a field trip to a local pig slaughterhouse, a fish and meat market, and a community where pigs are raised at the household level. These visits illustrated the reality of animal production, food safety and hygiene practices in rural communities in Asia. The meeting also provided an opportunity to develop the first sets of food safety risk communications, as well as country-specific action plans to accelerate the prevention and control of neglected foodborne parasitic zoonoses.
The meeting participants agreed to strengthen political commitment through high-level advocacy and push forward with cross-sectoral collaboration to develop a multisectoral road map to accelerate the prevention and control of neglected foodborne parasitic zoonoses. They were also encouraged to identify practical, feasible and cost-effective interventions and monitoring and evaluation approaches for assessing impacts of interventions in the local context and explore opportunities for aligning implementation with ongoing programmes or activities.
The OIE–FAO–WHO Tripartite was requested to continue providing technical support and guidance and facilitate cross-sectoral collaboration among public health, animal health, food safety and WASH sectors at national and regional levels by identifying and engaging relevant partners to accelerate the prevention and control of neglected foodborne parasitic zoonoses, and develop a network for the control of neglected foodborne parasitic zoonoses to facilitate sharing of experience across countries.