AU-IBAR Champions Coordinated Vaccine Strategies at the 92nd WOAH General Session Paris, France — 25–29 May 2025

The 92nd General Session of the World Assembly of Delegates, convened by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), opened today, Sunday 25 May 2025, at the Maison de la Chimie in Paris. This high-level, invitation-only gathering brings together delegates from 183 WOAH Members, observer countries and territories, international partner organizations, and key stakeholders to deliberate on major global animal health priorities. The week-long event will feature administrative and technical resolutions, the election of key governance positions, and thematic discussions to shape the future of animal health and welfare.

A Spotlight on Vaccines and Vaccination
One of the highlights of the Session was the Animal Health Forum on Vaccines and Vaccination, held on 25 May. The Forum, coordinated by WOAH, offered a platform for dialogue among delegates, researchers, development actors, and the private sector. The discussions focused on overcoming bottlenecks in vaccine development and deployment, with a goal of integrating effective vaccination strategies into national disease control plans—while ensuring safe international trade in animals and animal products.

Dr. Huyam Salih, Director, AU-IBAR, took part in the first high-level panel discussion of the WOAH Animal Health Forum on Vaccines and Vaccination, which explored how to better align global and regional efforts to strengthen animal vaccine systems and ensure their sustainability.

As a panelist, Dr. Salih highlighted Africa’s vision for self-reliance in animal health, grounded in regional coordination, innovation, and inclusive partnerships. She emphasized that Africa cannot afford to approach vaccination as an ad-hoc response to emergencies. Instead, vaccination must be mainstreamed into the continent’s preventive health architecture as a tool for resilience, development, and cross-border disease control.

“Vaccines without assured quality, and without cold-chain infrastructure, can become a liability,” she cautioned, pointing to the risks of poorly regulated vaccine distribution. “We need to invest in the capacities of our supply chains, logistics systems, and, critically, the veterinary workforce that delivers these lifesaving interventions.”

Dr. Salih spotlighted AU-IBAR’s role in leading continental efforts to eradicate Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) by 2030, noting the development of a continental PPR vaccination strategy and the coordination of implementation efforts with Regional Economic Communities (RECs). These RECs serve as crucial conduits for harmonizing vaccination campaigns and data sharing across borders, a necessity given the transboundary nature of livestock movement in Africa.

She also drew attention to infrastructure gaps—particularly in vaccine manufacturing, storage, and cold-chain logistics—which continue to undermine the reach and reliability of vaccination programmes. Addressing these bottlenecks, she stressed, will require a deliberate push to strengthen institutional capacity and local production ecosystems.

To bridge these gaps, Dr. Salih advocated for stronger public-private partnerships, citing the African Forum for Veterinary Workforce Development, launched during the AU-IBAR and WOAH Veterinary Workforce Conference in 2024. This new forum, she explained, is expected to foster dialogue and collaboration between governments, academia, the private sector, and civil society, thereby helping to professionalize the veterinary workforce and align skills with emerging needs in disease prevention and control.

Importantly, she framed vaccination not just as a health intervention, but also as a tool for achieving food security, economic growth, and social stability. Dr. Salih made the case that integrating vaccination into national investment frameworks would enable countries to preempt outbreaks, reduce the overuse of antibiotics, and thus mitigate the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR)—a silent pandemic with serious implications for both animal and human health.
“AMR is a real risk facing our continent. Vaccination offers one of the most effective preventive measures we have—not only for animal health but for preserving the efficacy of critical medicines,” she noted.

She concluded her remarks by emphasizing the need for strategic foresight and regional solidarity. Through AU-IBAR’s partnerships with institutions such as WOAH, AU-PANVAC, ILRI, GALVmed, and other international and local partners, she affirmed the African Union’s commitment to promoting vaccine quality assurance, regulatory harmonization, and the establishment of African centres of excellence for vaccine research, production, and capacity development.
Dr. Salih’s contribution underscored the role of the African Union not merely as a beneficiary of global health systems, but as a co-leader and solutions partner in building a coordinated, resilient, and equitable future for animal health on the continent and beyond.

Perspectives from Other Panelists
Following Dr. Salih, Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, former Minister of Health for Kenya, shared Kenya’s landmark initiative to vaccinate over 70 million livestock in 2025 against PPR and Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP). Drawing on lessons from Kenya’s COVID-19 response, he emphasized the economic rationale of vaccination over depopulation and the importance of strategic communication to counter misinformation.
“We’re not divorced from politics. Whether in human or animal health, vaccine campaigns are vulnerable to misinformation. Communication is essential to create demand and avoid resistance,” he stated.

Hon. Kobenan Kouassi Adjoumani, Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources of Côte d’Ivoire, highlighted the intersection of veterinary health and public communication, drawing from his background as Minister of Communication. He stressed the need for social and anthropological studies to inform effective vaccination campaigns, particularly in rural settings.

“If you fail in communication, you fail in vaccination. We had to involve hunters, chiefs, and even stage village plays in local languages to dispel fears and promote vaccine acceptance,” he explained.

Dr. Salih’s Closing Remarks
As the panel wrapped up, Dr. Salih offered closing reflections that reinforced the spirit of cooperation and long-term strategy:
“We are all striving toward one direction—improving animal health systems that are locally grounded and globally connected. This session has reaffirmed that no single institution or region can do it alone. We need sustained collaboration, resource investment, and a shift in mindset to view vaccination not just as a tool for emergency response, but as a cornerstone of preventive health systems,” she said.
She further called for reinforcing Africa’s position in global vaccine ecosystems through harmonized regulatory systems, self-sufficient vaccine production, and strategic knowledge partnerships.

What’s Next on the Agenda?
The 92nd General Session continues through Thursday, 29 May, with a robust agenda that includes:
•    Adoption of administrative and technical resolutions, including updates to disease statuses
•    Elections to fill vacancies in WOAH's governing bodies
•    Discussions on emerging global animal health issues, such as AMR, One Health integration, and the role of digital innovations
•    Regional Commission meetings, enabling countries to share progress and outline regional priorities
Additionally, side events and technical forums throughout the week will offer opportunities for in-depth collaboration between WOAH, regional institutions, and development partners.

AU-IBAR’s Role Going Forward
During the discussion, Dr. Salih reaffirmed AU-IBAR’s commitment to strengthening Africa’s animal health systems through:
•    Supporting harmonised regulatory frameworks via AU-PANVAC
•    Promoting vaccine self-sufficiency through local production and technology transfer
•    Establishing regional centres of excellence and facilitating twinning programmes with global research institutions

“Our Commissioner’s top priorities include securing Africa’s food and nutrition systems, driving economic growth through livestock, and ensuring Africa becomes self-reliant. Vaccination is central to this,” she noted, referring to remarks made by the African Union Commissioner, H.E. Moses Vilakati, Commissioner for Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment during the opening of the General Session.
AU-IBAR’s participation in the 92nd General Session underscores the African Union’s strategic vision of transforming the continent’s animal health landscape through innovation, resilience, and global policy alignment. Other panelists included Hon. Ministers from Spain and Côte d'Ivoire.

Read More on the 92nd General Session of the World Assembly of Delegates: https://www.woah.org/en/event/92nd-general-session-of-the-world-assembly-of-delegates/
▶️ Watch the Opening Ceremony: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77r1YDtATUM