Animal Health Information Systems provide an efficient way to share disease information among farms, villages, communes, districts, provinces, central veterinary offices, laboratories, and other national stakeholders. These systems play an important role in strengthening the country’s public health surveillance system and enabling rapid response to disease outbreaks; minimizing health threats and economic loss; and building public trust in livestock products for both domestic and global consumers. On August 28, the Government of Vietnam (GVN) launched the Vietnam Animal Health Information System (VAHIS) in Hanoi. VAHIS was developed with technical assistance from The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, which receives funds from USAID.

So What? VAHIS is expected to be a crucial instrument in executing and enforcing the GVN’s guidelines, and ensuring the availability of accurate and timely data for decision making by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.