(Adama, 03 December 2025, Ministry of Agriculture)
Possessing Africa’s largest livestock population and depending on the sector for over 80% of its citizens’ livelihoods, Ethiopia faces a significant threat due to the livestock sector’s high vulnerability to disease.
Addressing this urgent national concern, national simulation exercise designed to bolster the country’s preparedness and response capabilities for animal health emergencies including the crucial testing of the recently developed National Manual for the Management of Operations during Animal Health Emergencies.
Advisor of the State Minister of Agriculture, Girma Mulugeta stated that the government’s commitment to building a resilient livestock sector capable of withstanding pandemics, emerging zoonotic threats, and climate-linked emergencies.
He noted that launching the simulation workshop marks an important step toward safeguarding the livelihoods of millions of Ethiopians who rely on livestock for their income and food security.
Dr. Sisay Getachew, Animal Health and Veterinary Public Health Acting Lead Executive at MoA, on his part said that heightened during previous outbreaks particularly in reporting, diagnostics, biosecurity enforcement, and coordination underscore the importance of a unified national approach.
He also stressed and recurrent outbreaks of major transboundary and zoonotic diseases, including LSD, PPR, FMD, anthrax and Rift Valley fever.
The weaknesses observed during previous outbreaks such as reporting, diagnostics, biosecurity enforcement, and compensation mechanisms were underscoring the urgency of building a unified national approach to animal health emergency management.
The newly developed national operations manual, aligned with Proclamation No. 1376/2025, provides Ethiopia with its first standardized framework for outbreak declaration, emergency coordination, resource mobilization, and implementation of the Incident Command System (ICS). It offers clear guidance from early warning to full emergency activation, outlining responsibilities across federal, regional and woreda levels to ensure coordinated action during crises.
Ministry of Agriculture in coordination with FAO Emergency Management Center Ethiopia officially launched a 5-day national simulation exercise aimed at strengthening the country’s preparedness and response capacity for animal health emergencies.
The event brought together federal and regional experts and development partners to test and validate the newly developed National Manual for the Management of Operations during Animal Health Emergencies.
Reporter: – Gedion Negash
Camera: – Yodit Endalew
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