The Ministry of Agriculture on Sunday announced that it had completed the first phase of preparations to automate veterinary epidemiological information next August.
In a statement, Minister of Agriculture Khaled Hunaifat said that the automation initiative comes within the framework of a project for integrated electronic system for disease control, with a JD500,000 funding from the U.S. Department of Defense to reduce biological threats.
This experiment, he indicated, is the first of its kind in the Arab region, adding that the ministry is a major partner and beneficiary of the system, having contributed JD90,000 as of the third year of the project, which will be implemented over four years until 2024.
Hunaifat stated that the system includes documenting cases of veterinary diseases that are common between animals and humans, pointing out that the ministry will be in contact with the Ministry of Health to exchange epidemiological information.
The system, he added, includes data for various animal vaccination campaigns, epidemiological control insect vectors. It also provides accurate and technical models for analyzing the geographical and temporal distribution of diseases to highlight the role of veterinarians as a key factor for early detection of veterinary diseases, which facilitates planning for disease control to protect livestock, increase production and reduce losses of breeders.
The minister pointed out that the second phase of the project includes procuring computers to install the system on them in addition to tablets in each of the concerned departments at the Veterinary, Animal Health, and Livestock Laboratories departments.
Additionally, veterinary clinics will be spread across the Aqaba, Mafraq, Zarqa and Ajloun governorates to launch the pilot phase of the system before year end to be launched later on in all departments of agriculture, border posts and quarries early next year.
The minister also commended the U.S.’s support for key projects that are an addition to the agricultural sector, especially projects with advanced electronic systems.
Source: Jordan News Agency