Latest news with #TBEradicationProgramme
United News of India
16-07-2025
- Health
- United News of India
CMO orders inspection of ultrasound machines
Dharamshala, July 16 (UNI) Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Dr. Rajesh Guleri today directed all concerned medical officers in Kangra district to conduct inspections of ultrasound machines installed across healthcare institutions. The directive came during a district-level review meeting held at the Zonal Hospital here. Chairing the meeting, Dr. Guleri lauded Kangra district's commendable achievements under the government's Kayakalp programme, which encourages cleanliness, hygiene, and quality healthcare services. He informed that 131 health institutions across the district qualified under various categories of Kayakalp standards this year. Among the top performers in Category-1 (large institutions) were Civil Hospital Palampur, which was awarded first place and a prize of Rs 35 lakh, Zonal Hospital Dharamshala, awarded second place, and Civil Hospital Kangra, received a consolation award for its first-time participation. CMO said that in Category-2, CHC Bir received a consolation award with a prize of Rs one lakh. In Category-3 (Ayushman Arogya Mandirs) PHC Dhaduan won first place and Rs two lakh, Kot Palahadi Health Block (Nurpur) secured first place, Dhandol Health Block (Mahakal) was ranked second, and Vadoohi Health Block (Nurpur) bagged third place. Dr. Guleri also reviewed the progress of several government health programmes, including the TB Eradication Programme, Rashtriya Bal Suraksha Karyakram (RBSK), Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK), PM-SHRI Yojana, and the National Immunization Mission. He issued detailed instructions to all Block Medical Officers (BMOs) to strengthen the implementation of these schemes. The meeting was attended by MS of Zonal Hospital Dr. Anuradha Sharma, District TB Officer Dr. Rajesh Sood, SMO Kangra, District Programme Officers, all BMOs, and staff members. Dr. Rajesh Sood conducted the proceedings of the meeting. UNI AR SS
Pembrokeshire Herald
01-06-2025
- Health
- Pembrokeshire Herald
NFU Cymru urges faster action on bovine TB strategy
Union says policy progress welcome, but pace must accelerate to end disease's toll on Welsh farms NFU CYMRU has called for a significant acceleration in the Welsh Government's bovine TB eradication efforts, warning that while recent policy improvements are welcome, they fall short of delivering the scale of change needed to tackle the disease effectively. The comments come following a statement by Welsh Government updating Senedd Members on its TB Eradication Programme. The farming union acknowledged that positive steps have been made—particularly in partnership working and procedural changes influenced by union proposals—but warned that hundreds of Welsh herds and family-run farms continue to face devastation from the disease. Roger Lewis, Chairman of the NFU Cymru Bovine TB Focus Group, said: 'Welsh Government's new bTB governance structures are now fully operational, and NFU Cymru welcomes the opportunity to sit around the table with other stakeholders from the Welsh cattle industry, Welsh Government and APHA to discuss TB policy. 'We appreciate that these new structures need time to bed in, but the scale and pace of progress cannot be overstated. For those living with bovine TB every day, progress towards eradication often feels painfully slow or even non-existent. That's why we continue to push for a comprehensive strategy that addresses the disease wherever it exists.' Over 13,000 cattle were slaughtered in 2024 after testing positive as TB reactors—the highest number ever recorded in a single year. While NFU Cymru acknowledges that this figure partly reflects more sensitive testing, including wider use of gamma interferon tests, the human impact must not be ignored. 'Behind each number is a farming family dealing with emotional and financial hardship,' said Mr Lewis. 'We welcome the Deputy First Minister's recognition of the severe toll this disease takes on Welsh farmers. Whether TB is already on a farm or looming nearby, the scars run deep across our industry.' The union also highlighted policy shifts achieved through its ongoing engagement with government. Among them is a change in rules around on-farm slaughter of TB reactors, particularly heavily pregnant animals, which many members had found particularly traumatic. Since the policy change, 111 herds have opted to delay on-farm slaughter. Another key development is the government's revised approach to managing 'resolved' Inconclusive Reactor (IR) animals. NFU Cymru had called for tighter controls on such cattle, citing scientific evidence of their increased risk of becoming reactors in future. 'We believe it is sensible to remove this risk from the marketplace to protect other herds,' said Mr Lewis. 'However, we've also made the case that in some situations—such as tenancy changes—farmers may need to move these animals. We now await detailed guidance from Welsh Government on how the new policy will operate in practice.' He added that NFU Cymru stands ready to support clear communication of the changes and their scientific basis to the wider industry.
Agriland
19-05-2025
- Health
- Agriland
Department to present revised TB plan this week
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine is set to present a revised plan to amend the TB Eradication Programme, Agriland understands. This plan will be presented to farm organisations ahead of follow-up meetings with stakeholders this week, following on from the extraordinary 'summit' meeting that took place earlier this month, it is understood. At that earlier meeting, a slate of 30 proposals were put forward for consideration by stakeholders, with a view to amending the eradication programme in light of deteriorating metrics for TB in Ireland. These proposals were met with some criticism by farm organisations, who called for changes to what was being recommended. In the latest development, it is understood that Minister for Agriculture, Food, and the Marine Martin Heydon has invited stakeholders to bilateral meetings to discuss a revised plan. Farm organisations have not yet received that revised plan, but are due to receive it before the meeting, which is scheduled to take place on Thursday of this week (May 22), it is believed. Agriland understands that each farm organisation will be invited to bring four of their members to the bilateral meetings. TB Speaking to Agriland recently, Minister Heydon said that the TB situation in Ireland at present is 'a crisis of very significant proportion'. 'Only very recently a couple of years ago, we were having 20,000 reactors a year, last year we had 41,600. If I don't act very soon, we could be up to 60,00 reactors. I'm not going to let that happen on my watch,' he said. 'I was listening to the concerns raised by farm organisations, and I really hope they were listening to me too. The points I was raising, where we're coming from… This has to be backed by science. 'I will invest more, I will put more focus in this space, and I need everyone to work with me, but I won't leave a space where we let the disease seep through. We've got to stop this rapid increase in the disease. We have to stabilise it, reduce it, and then we can credibly talk about eradication again,' the minister said.
Agriland
10-05-2025
- Health
- Agriland
Farm orgs respond to DAFM's proposals at TB summit
The Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA) and the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) have offered a mixed response to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine's (DAFM) TB summit. At the meeting in Dublin on Thursday (May 8), the Minister for Agriculture, Martin Heydon said that he will 'move quickly to refine' the TB Eradication Programme. The ICSA animal health and welfare chair, John Barron believes that the summit showed a welcome intent to reinvigorate the fight against TB, but that many of the proposals 'lacked clarity and fairness'. Barron said: 'We welcome the recognition that a new approach is needed. However, the ICSA has deep concerns about the selective use of science, vague proposals, and a growing emphasis on penalising farmers instead of reforming the system. 'Science must be applied consistently – not just to justify tougher rules for farmers while ignoring glaring gaps in wildlife control.' 'We welcome the long-overdue decision to actually test badgers for TB before vaccinating them, the fact that this hasn't been routine until now is ludicrous and shows how selectively the science is being applied,' Barron added. According to the ICSA, the issue of uncontrolled deer populations contributing to the spread of TB 'is growing' and the problem requires 'maximum intervention, not minimal tweaking'. The organisation also said that it will not tolerate any cuts to compensation. Barron said: 'Cutting payments is fundamentally unfair when the precise source of infection is unknown in most cases and TB testing is far from 100% accurate. 'Any farmer can suffer a TB breakdown despite their best efforts, yet the Department's version of 'science' seems to blame farmers, and then cut their payments. That's completely unacceptable,' he added. TB summit The IFA animal health chair, TJ Maher has claimed that 'the ball is very much in the minister's court' following the summit. The IFA claims it has put forward a detailed and credible set of proposals that address all the key drivers of the disease. It also claims that it's proposals minimise the impact of TB on farmers, while utilising the tools available in a practical and pragmatic way. Maher said: 'Minister Heydon engaged constructively in the discussions and his objective of 'striking a balance between minimising the number of affected farmers, whilst at the same time introducing impactful measures which will reduce the high levels of disease we are currently seeing', provides the opportunity for progress to be made in agreeing an enhanced programme. 'But there are a number of measures proposed by his officials in the document that fall well short of this criteria. (They) are crude and impose unnecessary and significant cost and burden on individual farmers and the broader agri sector.' According to the IFA, the current controls are costing farmers over €150m a year. Maher explained: 'A number of proposals contained in the document circulated by DAFM in advance of the meeting add enormously to this cost, devalues entire herds, and leaves some farms unable to sell cows for up to five years following a breakdown, this is unacceptable and unnecessary.'
Agriland
09-05-2025
- Health
- Agriland
Heydon to ‘move quickly' to ‘refine' TB Eradication Programme
Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine Martin Heydon has said that he will 'move quickly to refine' the TB Eradication Programme following the emergency meeting with farm organisations and other sector stakeholders. The meeting took place yesterday (Thursday, May 8) in Dublin. The objective of the meeting, which Minister Heydon convened and attended himself, was to address deteriorating TB disease levels. TB disease levels have increased significantly in recent years. Herd incidence has gone from 4.31% in 2022 to 6.04% in 2024, a 36% increase in the number of herds restricted between 2022 and 2024. This is a point not seen since 2003. The following organisations and bodies attended the meeting: Animal Health Ireland (AHI); Irish Farmers' Association (IFA); National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS); Irish Co-operative Organisation Society (ICOS); Irish Natura and Hill Farmers' Association (INHFA); Irish Cattle and Sheep Farmers' Association (ICSA); Macra; Veterinary Ireland; Irish Creamery Milk Suppliers Association (ICMSA); Teagasc. These groups were given an opportunity to provide feedback on proposed measures to tackle TB at the start of the summit. This was followed by bilateral meetings with the minister and his officials. Commenting on the summit, Minister Heydon said 'The most effective way to mitigate the impact of this disease on farm families is to reduce its incidence and the potential of spread between herds. 'This will involve some difficult decisions, and I wanted to provide an opportunity to those affected to provide their perspectives on what is a significant challenge for all concerned,' he added. 'I also want to ensure that any measures that we adopt are based on the very best scientific advice. 'I am satisfied that today's engagement will contribute to a more effective programme that protects farmers from this disease,' the minister said. He added: 'I intend to move quickly now to refine the programme to ensure that we do what is necessary to reduce the impact of this disease on farm families.' It is understood that the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine outlined around 30 draft proposals to tackle the rising incidence rate of TB at the emergency meeting. Agriland understands that the department presented proposals at yesterday's meeting under the following headings: Support herds to remain free of bovine TB; Reduce the impact of wildlife on the spread of bovine TB; Detect and eliminate TB infection as early as possible in herds with a TB breakdown and avoid a future breakdown; Help farmers improve all areas of on-farm biosecurity; Reduce the impact of known high risk animals in spreading TB. The draft proposals are understood to have stated that information on TB herd risk category would be provided at point of sale for all cattle.
