Workshop january 2008

National Animal Health Strategy (NAHS)
Multi-partner Workshop

January 15-16, 2008

January 2008 Workshop Summary Report

< Proposed Dtrategic Objectives

Table of Contents

Comments on the Proposed NAHS Frame >

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Part 3: Considering wich Element should be in the Overarching Vision

The second breakout discussions focussed on four main areas of inquiry.  Participants were asked to debate, discuss and, if possible, reach consensus on:

1. the essential elements of an overarching vision for the NAHS
2. the proposed four quadrant framework of the NAHS.  Specifically, participants were asked to explore the level of support for the framework and how could the proposed framework be improved
3. the results of the polling conducted on the strategic objectives, specifically for comments and reactions
4. proposed next steps to move forward with respect to the strategic objectives

This section summarizes their discussions.

Comments on overarching vision for the NAHS:

• an overarching vision must have effective governance at its core, driving a connected and integrated approach to animal health that ensures collaboration and coordination of effort.  Canadians value animal health, and balance the interests of ecosystem, economic and human health.
• a proposed vision statement could read: Canada's animal health system promotes safe and secure food and feed production in healthy and diverse ecosystems.  Canada has a comprehensive, integrated national program that promotes animal health and welfare as it relates to public health, market access while recognizing social, environmental and economical consequences and ensuring public confidence both nationally and internationally.
• in a context of partnership, communication and education, the NAHS three main elements should be: to know, to improve and to protect animal health.

• a vision should be a long term goal - something that you always work towards. 
• visions are decisive one or two liners and the mission statement should say how to achieve it in 4-5 lines.
• the vision statement has to grab you - it should be written so that you want to get involved in making it happen
• the following common elements of an overarching vision were proposed:

1. connectivity and integration

• key insights:
  • animal health is a global responsibility that will depend on interconnectivity, integration and effective collaboration by key stakeholders around the world
  • there will need to be a high level of open communication and collaboration between sectors and potential silos for the sharing of information, developing collections of data and emergency preparedness
  • the NAHS will need to incorporate cross jurisdiction collaboration to unify and integrate federal, provincial, territorial and municipal perspectives
• result of brainstorm of vision elements by participants:
  • collection of information on animal health
  • anti-silo, open communication and information sharing
  • clear communications
  • high level of communication and education
  • effective system for prevention and emergency preparedness
  • global perspective for NAHS (everything connected)
  • global integration of animal health systems
  • coordination of animal health decision-making
  • national unifying strategy
  • integrated: federal, provincial, private, municipal, territorial
  • cross jurisdictional collaboration

2. balanced animal health

• key insights:
  • there is a balance between animal, ecosystem and public health
  • sustainability and diversity are required for animal health
  • focus on individual animal health is equally important as whole populations
• result of brainstorm of vision elements by participants:
  • sustainable habitat for domestic animals and wildlife
  • sustainable animal health
  • welfare and health of individual animals versus whole populations
  • interaction with economic, public and environmental health
  • healthy animals in the food chain (need food, provide food)
  • animal health (definition includes welfare)
  • balanced interests of animals, humans, economy, environment
  • one health - balanced and integrated: animal, public and ecosystem health

3. effective governance

• key insights:
  • in order to achieve excellence there needs to be a focus on continuous improvement
  • the governance structure will need to be inclusive of all sectors and regions
  • it will need to have defined roles and responsibilities and a time horizon
• result of brainstorm of vision elements by participants:
  • risk-based decision making
  • include a time horizon in the vision
  • excellence - continuous improvement
  • defined roles and responsibilities
  • governance structure inclusive of all sectors/regions
  • effective governance structure

4. animal population valued by Canadians

• key insights:
  • the people of Canada respects and values a healthy animal population
  • all Canadians recognize the benefits of animal health
  • result of the brainstorm of vision elements by participants:
  • respect for animals and humans
  • scope: for the people of Canada
  • Canada values healthy animal populations
  • benefit to Canadians and to Canada
• Three vision statements were proposed by another group:

1. Canada's animal health system promotes safe and secure food and feed production in healthy and diverse ecosystems
2. Canada has a comprehensive, integrated national program that promotes animal health and welfare as it relates to public health, market access while recognizing social, environmental and economical consequences and ensuring public confidence both nationally and internationally
3. vision of a strategy: to measure and assess Canadian animal health and welfare:

• knowledge of population and location of all domestic and wild animals
• knowledge of existing threats by disease or incident so as to avoid degradation of health
• knowledge and control of import and export of any animal which may carry or communicate a disease, faults or blemish detrimental to other animals or humans
• knowledge and availability of science based technical standards and protocols at all municipal, provincial, territorial, federal and industry levels necessary to measure threats, meet or exceed recognized international standards and expanding decisions including but not limited to timing or incidents of pandemic proportion

• key elements that must be included in a vision statement:
  • knowledge of animal health status of domestic and wild animals
  • validity of knowledge is recognized - OIE standards, trading partners and public
  • impact to public health
  • risk-based
  • partnerships
  • prevention and proactive rather than reactive
  • greater clarity of responsibility for action
  • recognizing social, environmental, economic impacts of managing health
  • must be health related
  • non restrictive to livestock or food production
  • must have a positive impact i.e. reduced risk to public health
  • long term sustainability - environmental, social, economic, ecological...
  • recognizes the social, environmental, economic consequences of managing animal health
• the first three strategic objectives truly represent the essentials of the NAHS i.e. remove impediments to data sharing, improve animal health and welfare governance, and enhance the knowledge base
• the following vision statement was proposed but did not receive support because of its focus on food and farmed animals: a food and farmed animal health strategy which ensures public health, ecosystem health and sustainable development
• in terms of economic impact, research, welfare and public health, priorities and investment will vary for farmed, wild, companion and exhibition animals