Al Shaqab, Ministry of Municipality and Environment Sign MoU on Livestock Diseases Researches, Labs

Doha, October 05 (QNA) - Al Shaqab, a Qatar Foundation (QF) member, signed Wednesday a memorandum of understanding with Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME), under which cooperation will be established between Al Shaqab and the MME's Department of Animal Resources to develop the equestrian sector in the State of Qatar, and in the field of research and laboratories related to livestock diseases. The memorandum was signed by Operations Manager at Al Shaqab Saif Al Naimi and Director of the Livestock Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment Abdulaziz Mahmoud Al Ziyara. The memorandum aims to cooperate between the two parties to accredit the Equine Veterinary Medical Center (EVMC)'s laboratory by the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH), to become a reference laboratory for equine diseases in the Middle East. This includes screening for infectious and epidemiological diseases, and training, rehabilitation and building of technical capacities working in the equestrian sector in Qatar in horse diseases diagnosis through the implementation of training programs and the preparation and organization of specialist workshops in animal health and laboratory tests for horse diseases. Both sides also agreed on exchanging information related to the statistics of equine epidemiological diseases and exchanging research information. Al Nuaimi said they were pleased to announce this important partnership with the MME, which will help them achieve fruitful cooperation and improve health services provided to horse owners. There is no doubt that the areas of cooperation within this partnership include many important aspects for Al Shaqab and the MME, he said. He added that the EVMC's laboratory was established in late 2018, which is a fully equipped laboratory in a state-of-the-art model that provides comprehensive routine and specialist diagnostic services in clinical pathology, microbiology, parasitology, endocrinology and molecular diagnostics. He added that the center contains several departments including department of gastrointestinal and reproductive medicine, surgery and endoscopy, sports medicine, diagnosis of lameness, horseshoe correction workshop, and mobile treatment service. Al Naimi said that the veterinary medical center laboratory is able, through the medical and technical team in hospitals and laboratories, to provide general and specialist tests that help vets reach a confirmatory diagnosis of the diseases prevalent in Qatar. He pointed out that all horse breeders receive support by providing workshops and periodic seminars to educate owners about the importance of caring for horses to avoid health problems that require medical and surgical interventions. As for treatment, we have health packages that support all categories of breeders and the highest international standards. Al Naimi said that by accrediting an equine disease laboratory by the WOAH, both time and money will be saved to conduct blood tests for horse owners here in Qatar according to the highest medical standards, instead of sending samples to other laboratories abroad. It also contributes to raising the efficiency of workers in the field of Equestrianism by providing specialist workshops to control epidemic diseases and reduce their spread, he said. He added that the center offers internal services as well as global ones by providing volunteer opportunities, training and research for all workers in the veterinary field. Al Naimi stressed that the laboratory currently provides diagnostic services for horses coming to the center as well as to external vets, and in the future, adding that the serology department will be developed in the future, through providing diagnostic tests for all transboundary diseases required for the export and import of horses. He said that this project aims not only to serve horses in Qatar but also horses in the GCC countries and the region. (QNA)