| The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory at Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara, is expected to be completed by November.Agriculture Minister,Cheap Adidas NHL Jerseys, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy said that he visited the site recently, and that construction of the facility was just about 55 percent completed.The Minister expressed satisfaction with the progress of the work, noting that he is confident that the aforementioned deadline will be met.Construction continues on the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab at Mon Repos, ECD.At a cost of US $2.5M, Dr. Ramsammy said that the lab will have the capability to test, detect, and diagnose diseases affecting animals. This ability will ultimately improve the livestock sector.The laboratory is being built where the Animal Health Laboratory once stood, and because the old facility was hardly ever used, and had not been functioning as a full-fledged lab, it was demolished and redesigned.Dr. Ramsammy explained that the Animal Health Lab was operating as sample holding facility, and that tests had to be done overseas. However, with the new diagnostic lab, the Minister explained that the resources will be made available to allow for testing to be done locally.He noted that when the laboratory is commissioned November month end, it will be equipped to test for brucellosis which is caused by bacteria, and affects mainly sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, and dogs; bovine (cattle) diseases; leptospirosis; and tuberculosis among others.The needed equipments for the facility has already been procured and will be installed upon completion of the lab, Ramsammy said.The Minister noted also that his Ministry is working to have the laboratory accredited, so that the tests done here can be recognized abroad.Dr. Ramsammy had told Kaieteur News that the Veterinary Diagnostic Lab is critical as Guyana move towards consolidating its food security and lowering its high importation cost.It was further noted that soon, there will be a database on the Veterinary Practitioner’s Act, and a Veterinary Council will be set up to register all veterinarians and veterinary technicians across the country.Ramsammy also made mention of the Animals (Movement and Disease Prevention) Act, which is intended to address the wellbeing of animals.He said that wanting to improve the quality of meat produced locally, especially for exports, would call for healthy animals, thus, a credible animal health lab is necessary.The Veterinary Diagnostic Lab is, and will remain under the supervision of the Guyana Livestock Development Authority (GLDA), which is headed by Dr. Dindyal Permaul. |
