With support from the Pandemic Fund and in close partnership with the University of Rwanda and the Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Development Board (RAB), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has achieved a significant milestone in strengthening veterinary medicine quality control in Rwanda.
FAO Rwanda recently trained veterinary professionals operating under the Veterinary Sanitary Mandate (VSM) on the use of the GPHF Minilab, a portable laboratory system designed to detect substandard and falsified veterinary medicines. The capacity-building initiative aims to enhance national surveillance mechanisms, improve regulatory compliance, and safeguard animal health nationwide.
Following the completion of the training, FAO officially handed over the GPHF Minilab to RAB, reinforcing national ownership and ensuring sustainable use of the equipment within Rwanda’s veterinary regulatory framework. The Minilab will support timely field-based testing of veterinary medicines, enabling authorities to rapidly identify quality issues and take corrective action.
This intervention directly contributes to Rwanda’s efforts to strengthen regulatory and laboratory quality control systems for veterinary medicines, and to mitigate the risks of antimicrobial resistance, critical elements of pandemic prevention and preparedness. By improving access to safe, effective, and quality-assured veterinary medicines, the initiative also supports livestock productivity, food safety, and the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.
The activity reflects FAO’s commitment to working with national institutions and academia to build resilient veterinary services and advance the One Health approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of animal, human, and environmental health.
Through strategic partnerships and innovative tools, FAO continues to support Rwanda in strengthening its animal health systems for a safer, healthier, and more resilient future.
