By Dr Ansab Ali Lahore Pakistan

LAHORE: A delegation from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, Bangkok, led by Senior Animal Health and Production Officer Dr Scott Newman, along with Regional Wildlife Specialist Dr Zachary Dvornicky Raymond and Project Coordinator FAO Country Office Islamabad Dr Riasat Wasee Ullah, visited the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS), Lahore, and called on Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr. Masood Rabbani.

A meeting was also held at UVAS, chaired by Prof. Dr. Masood Rabbani, during which participants discussed priority competencies, institutional needs and practical mechanisms required to strengthen the capacity of wildlife and environment professionals to detect, assess and respond to health risks at the human-animal-ecosystem interface.

The participants also discussed ways to enable wildlife and environmental professionals to contribute effectively to Pakistan’s One Health system.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof. Dr. Masood Rabbani expressed UVAS’s willingness to collaborate with the FAO delegation in training wildlife veterinary field professionals and updating the DVM curriculum in line with modern requirements and international standards.

Earlier, Prof. Dr. Masood Rabbani welcomed the delegation to UVAS and presented a university video documentary highlighting the institution’s academic and research activities, development initiatives, student strength and collaborations with national and international institutions.

Dr. Scott Newman gave a detailed presentation on the FAO’s global three-to-four-month FTP-WEBE (Frontline Training Program for Wildlife, Environment, Biodiversity and Ecosystems), aimed at strengthening the capacity of in-service field professionals and supporting national One Health implementation.

He highlighted key areas including pandemic preparedness and response through operationalising the One Health approach in Pakistan, strengthening One Health implementation, the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan, One Health challenges, and the FTP-WEBE training goals, materials, curriculum and expected outcomes.

Senior UVAS faculty members and officials from various departments also attended the meeting, including Principal Officer Ravi Campus Prof. Dr. Khalid Mehmood Anjum, Department of Livestock Management Dr. Muhammad Qamar Shahid, Department of Wildlife and Ecology Dr. Rehan Ul Haq, Department of Environmental Sciences Dr. Fareeha Arooj, Director Veterinary Academy Dr. Asif Awan and Director Students Affairs Dr. Muhammad Oneeb.