Early response to disease outbreaks

The Government of Mongolia is placing emphasis on the development of an effective veterinary system. The current system does not support the systematic control of livestock diseases and does not make provision for early responses to outbreaks of disease, which is impeding meat exports.

SDC has been supporting the restructuring of Mongolia’s veterinary system since 2008, as well as building the capacity of veterinarians, raising awareness among herders, conducting post-vaccination monitoring, assisting with the development of an Animal Health Law and by reforming the veterinary education system.

In relation to legislation, the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry, with support from Swiss specialists, developed a draft Animal Health Law that was submitted to the Parliament for approval.

“During the socialist regime, the government took responsibility for veterinary services according to the laws, ordinances and regulations. Herders became less responsible,” said SDC Head of Programme Daniel Valenghi.

“Under the new Animal Health Law, all parties’ roles and responsibilities are well defined. Therefore, the new veterinary structure will help ensure that early response is undertaken when there are outbreaks of diseases.”

Brucellosis and Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) control

Swiss experts have been assisting with the development of disease-control strategies for brucellosis and FMD - two of the country’s most common diseases - which serve as a model for the control of other livestock diseases.

The approved brucellosis control strategy - which is effective until 2020 and is based on the “One Health” concept that involves collaboration between medical doctors and veterinarians - includes a mass vaccination component. 

“The fact that a country has brucellosis means that the veterinary structure is not set up correctly,” Mr Valenghi said. “However, it is possible to control brucellosis.”

In relation to FMD, he said that while animals infected with the disease could recover and did not pose a significant risk for herder households, the presence of the disease restricts international sales of livestock products.

The FMD control strategy is focused on the establishment of an FMD-free zone in the western region of Mongolia. This is crucial as the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) requires Mongolia to have an FMD-free status in order to export meat. To achieve this status, Mongolia must demonstrate its ability to control livestock movements, control infections, and rapidly respond during disease outbreaks.

School of Veterinary Medicine curriculum revision

One of the Animal Health Project’s goals is the improvement of formal veterinary education. An external evaluation of the School of Veterinary Medicine’s curriculum found that it did not meet current veterinary demands. This meant that graduates lacked the requisite knowledge and skills to provide effective veterinary services.

Following recommendations from experts at the Royal Veterinary College, the school’s curriculum was revised to meet international standards. In addition, teachers took part in capacity building trainings and improved their teaching methodologies.

The Animal Health Project also supported the development of students’ practical skills by setting up an animal fence furnishing lecture halls, and upgrading the library.