08/08/2026
The Central Veterinary Epidemiology Unit (Epidemiology Unit) in collaboration with Central Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (CVDL) under the Animal Resources Division of the Ministry of Agriculture is pleased to announce the successful completion of the Training of Trainers (ToT) on the Integrated Animal Disease Surveillance and Response (IADSR) System, held from 5–6 August 2026 at the FHI360 Liberia Head Office, in Monrovia.
The training was conducted by the Epidemiology Unit and CVDL staff with financial and technical support from FHI 360 through the STRIDES Project, marking another important milestone in Liberia's efforts to strengthen animal disease surveillance and response.
This achievement is particularly significant as it represents one of the first major implementation steps following the validation of the second edition of the Animal Disease Surveillance and Response (ADSR) Guidelines, now updated to the Integrated Animal Disease Surveillance and Response (IADSR) Guidelines, in 2023. The revised framework reflects Liberia's commitment to adopting a more coordinated, One Health-oriented approach to surveillance, early detection, reporting, and response to animal diseases.
During the two-day training, County Animal Health Surveillance Officers and County Livestock Officers were equipped with the knowledge and practical skills needed to support the nationwide implementation of the IADSR system. The training also strengthened participants' capacity to improve disease reporting, data quality, outbreak investigation, and timely response to animal health events at the county level.
The successful completion of the represents a major step toward improving Liberia's animal disease surveillance system and enhancing national preparedness for trans--boundary animal diseases, zoonotic diseases, and other emerging animal health threats.
Building on the success of the ToT, the Ministry of Agriculture, through the Central Veterinary Epidemiology Unit, will immediately commence the county-level rollout of the IADSR training. The cascade training will be conducted simultaneously in four regional locations, ensuring that frontline animal health personnel (CAHW) across the participating counties are trained and prepared to implement the IADSR system effectively.
The Ministry of Agriculture throught Epidemiology Unit expresses its sincere appreciation to FHI 360 and the STRIDES Project for their continued partnership and support in strengthening Liberia's animal health surveillance system. Through this collaborative effort, Liberia is making meaningful progress toward a more responsive, integrated, and resilient animal disease surveillance system that will better protect livestock, safeguard public health, and contribute to national and regional health security.
