MZCP detailed presentation
Purposes and Objectives of an Interregional Programme
Preamble
Zoonoses and related foodborne diseases are known to cause public health and socioeconomic problems of considerable magnitude in most countries of the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions.
Decades ago, the affected countries realized that zoonotic diseases, such as brucellosis, echinococcosis, leishmaniasis, rabies and related foodborne diseases could not be efficiently controlled or eliminated if prevention, surveillance and control activities were carried out by them in isolation. Among other factors, the timely exchange between countries of reliable information on disease occurrence, sustained inter-country technical cooperation, harmonization of surveillance and control strategies and legislation together with intersectoral collaboration and coordination are essential for the success of national programmes for zoonoses prevention, surveillance and control. Moreover, the support of strong international organizations is also required.
This situation was first addressed by the World Health Organization’s Member States at the 31st World Health Assembly held in 1978. A resolution on the "Prevention and Control of Zoonoses and Foodborne Diseases due to Animal Products" was then endorsed. Following the adoption of this resolution, WHO created the Mediterranean Zoonoses Control Programme (MZCP). For the coordination and implementation of the activities of the Programme, the Mediterranean Zoonoses Control Centre (MZCC) was established in 1979 in Athens, Greece.
The MZCP is supervised by the Department of Communicable Diseases Surveillance and Response at WHO Headquarters, Geneva, and closely collaborates with the WHO Regional Office for the Eastern Mediterranean, Cairo, Egypt, specialized WHO, FAO and OIE Collaborating Centres and the MZCP network of National Participating Institutions. Moreover, it maintains close relationships with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Objectives of the Programme
The main objectives of the Programme are to foster, both at national and interregional levels, programmes for the prevention, surveillance and control of zoonoses and foodborne diseases as an integral part of national public health programmes, to strengthen the collaboration between national animal health and public health services and to foster cooperation between the MZCP Member States and relevant collaborating scientific Institutions.
Participating and Associated Countries
The participating countries are Bulgaria, Cyprus, Egypt, Greece, Lebanon, Kuwait, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Syrian Arab Republic and Turkey; countries associated with the Programme are Algeria, Italy, Jordan, Malta, Morocco and Tunisia. The Islamic Republic of Iran is expected to formally join the Programme shortly.
The MZCP/Joint Coordinated Committee
The MZCP is governed by the Joint Coordinated Committee composed by representatives of the Member States and the WHO. The Committee meets every two years and endorses the Plan of Work for the next biennium. The activities of the Programe are implemented through the annual financial contribution of the participating countries and the contribution in kind of the collaborating institutions.
The Mediterranean Zoonoses Control Centre
The Mediterranean Zoonoses Control Centre (MZCC) located in Athens, Greece, implements and coordinates the activities of the Programme, as follows:
- Planning and conducting training courses
- Organizing seminars, workshops, conferences, expert consultations
- Organizing individual or group training in laboratory diagnosis procedures
- Planning and coordinating research projects
- Publishing and distributing educational and informative material
- Coordinating epidemiological surveillance activities
- Fostering intersectoral cooperation between public health and veterinary services
- Promoting public health education
- Maintaining close cooperation with international organizations
- Exchange of information, etc.
Benefits by Joining the MZCP
Public health problems and their solution became an international issue. Countries alone, even the more developed ones, cannot cope any more with communicable diseases in general and zoonoses in particular. New challenges require the creation of effective surveillance networks covering more than one country and the development of human and technical resources for rapid response to epidemics. Information, technology, epidemiology, food safety tools and regulations must be disseminated and adopted for use by public and animal health professionals.
The need for a region-wide approach to combat against zoonotic and foodborne diseases led the MZCP to the promotion and implementation of training programmes involving medical and veterinary staff from as many as possible countries of the Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions.
In this regard, two main categories of activities are included in the MZCP plan of work:
- inter-country training courses on high priority regional subjects;
- national training courses on subjects selected by the Member Countries, according to their own priorities.
The activities of group a apply to trainees nominated by their respective member countries and are selected in collaboration with the WHO/MZCC. They are organized under the complete responsibility of the Centre in cooperation with its collaborating institutions.
The activities of group b aim at the training of national staff (mainly physicians and veterinarians) at national and district levels. The role of the MZCP in these cases would be to provide support to the member countries that will have expressed their wish to organize training seminars.
The national training courses are based on intersectoral principles with the participation of all parties involved in the implementation of zoonoses' prevention and control activities such as the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Health, and other relevant administrations, at central and district levels, academic institutions, veterinary and medical associations, industry, etc.