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Scottish Minister for Europe & International Development engages in talks on African and South Asian livestock vaccines with Scottish-based international charity

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Mr Yousaf and GALVmed CEO, Directors and Chair

(13th May 2015) Humza Yousaf MSP, Scottish Minister for Europe and International Development, visited Scottish-based NGO, GALVmed, on 13 May to meet with the charity that makes livestock vaccines available to poor livestock keepers in Africa and South Asia.

Mr Yousaf met with GALVmed representatives to learn more about the charity’s various projects and its future goals for making sustainable livestock vaccines available to African and South Asian livestock keepers. Project leaders in Africa and India discussed their vaccine programmes tackling Newcastle disease and East Coast Fever, which devastate poor livestock keepers who rely on livestock for food and necessities.

Peter Jeffries, CEO of GALVmed said:

“GALVmed is delighted to welcome Mr Yousaf to our Edinburgh office and to raise awareness of the importance of livestock vaccines for the 900 million poor farmers throughout Africa and South Asia. Through our many partners, we work to research, develop, manufacture and distribute affordable and sustainable livestock vaccines to poor livestock keepers in Africa and South Asia. We focus on 12 diseases that devastate cows, goats, sheep, pigs and poultry. By creating sustainable supply chains for affordable and sustainable livestock vaccines, we ensure that poor farmers receive the support and infrastructure available to provide for their families, contribute to their local economies and increase their confidence and livelihood. “

Humza Yousaf, Minister for Europe and International Development for the Scottish Government said:

“Across the world, the health of farm animals and humans are bound together. This is more profound in developing nations where poor animal health is affects the already meagre income of farmers and raises food prices for others. ”

“The financial drain of preventable animal diseases across continents can reach billions of dollars. This is money that could be put to better use to lift people out of poverty, encourage prosperity and reinvested in the economy. By helping disadvantaged communities and farmers to vaccinate their animals, GALVMed is making food supplies and economies more sustainable and improving the long term outlook for millions of people in Africa and South Asia.”

GALVmed has three offices in: Edinburgh, Nairobi and New Delhi. GALVmed is funded by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK Government.

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Notes to the editor:

1)      GALVmed (the Global Alliance for Livestock Veterinary Medicines): Around 900 million people living in poverty rely on their livestock for daily needs.  When disease strikes, the loss of livestock or reduced production impacts food security and nutrition, the provision of education, basic healthcare and limits choice and opportunity.

2)      GALVmed is a not-for-profit livestock health product development & adoption partnership organisation.  It is working with and through partners to make livestock vaccines, medicines and diagnostics accessible to the millions for whom livestock is a lifeline.

3)      GALVmed focuses on 12 livestock diseases endemic to Africa and South Asia. These are: Trypanosomosis, African Swine Fever, Classical Swine Fever, Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia, East Coast Fever, Hemorrhagic Septicaemia, Newcastle Disease, Peste des Petits Ruminants, Porcine Cysticercosis, Rift Valley Fever and Sheep and Goat Pox. The diseases are at various stages from research and development to product and market development.

4)      For more information, please visit www.galvmed.org

CONTACT:
Heather Irish
Communications Officer
0131 445 6299
Heather.Irish@galvmed.org