Abu Dhabi Hosts Workshop to Tackle Foodborne Diseases with WHO

The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), in a collaborative effort with the World Health Organisation (WHO), recently hosted a national workshop focused on the assessment of foodborne disease burdens. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to enhance food safety and public health protection by adopting and implementing internationally recognized methodologies for evaluating the impact of foodborne illnesses.

The workshop saw participation from a wide array of experts and specialists from various government agencies across the UAE. The primary goal was to bolster national capabilities in accurately assessing the burden of foodborne diseases, thereby aligning with superior international standards and enhancing national food safety protocols.

Mouza Suhail Al Muhairi, Deputy Director-General for Regulatory and Administrative Affairs at ADAFSA, highlighted the significance of the ADAFSA-WHO partnership in her opening remarks. She underscored the workshop's role in facilitating a comprehensive understanding of WHO's methodologies among UAE authorities, which is crucial for mapping the country's health landscape and mitigating foodborne disease risks.

"Our collaboration with WHO in this workshop provides an important opportunity for all relevant authorities in the UAE to support efforts to estimate the burden of foodborne diseases," Al Muhairi stated. She further elaborated on the workshop's objectives, including contributing to Abu Dhabi's vision for global leadership in food security and gaining international recognition for the burden estimation study in alignment with UN standards.

Dr. Elaine Borghi, WHO Representative, addressed the global challenge posed by foodborne diseases, citing annual economic losses of approximately US$110 billion. She emphasized WHO's commitment to reducing these diseases through the 2022-adopted food safety strategy and highlighted ongoing efforts with the Foodborne Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group (FERG) to develop global estimates set for release in 2025.

The workshop concluded with ADAFSA's Deputy Director-General honoring speakers and presenting certificates to participants. This event is a testament to ADAFSA and WHO's dedication to strengthening international cooperation in food safety, aligning with the WHO Global Strategy for Food Safety 2022-2030.

ADAFSA's engagement with WHO extends beyond workshops; it encompasses training local experts, seeking international recognition for burden assessment studies, and ensuring efficient resource allocation for prevention, intervention, and control measures. The partnership aims to leverage standardized methodologies for better exchange of expertise, enhance food safety policy, and improve national food safety systems.

Furthermore, ADAFSA is committed to improving documentation and reporting on foodborne diseases, establishing effective communication channels, and facilitating cooperation with local, federal, and international stakeholders. This includes developing a comprehensive risk management culture and updating institutional and sectoral risk management frameworks to ensure business continuity through coordinated efforts.

With inputs from WAM