Phase II aims to further strengthen the capabilities of the animal health workforce across the Asia-Pacific region, equipping them to effectively prevent, detect, and respond to disease outbreaks. Over the last quarter, we have made significant progress in achieving this objective through the following key activities:

From April 22-24, 2025, APCOVE conducted strategic stakeholder consultations in Jakarta and Yogyakarta, bringing together representatives from animal health, human health, environmental sectors, and academia to strengthen Indonesia's veterinary epidemiology capacity.

Indonesia has been a cornerstone partner since APCOVE's inception, with this relationship deepening through the development of training resources now available in Bahasa Indonesia. The timing proved particularly strategic, aligning with Indonesia's National Medium-Term Development Plan 2025-2029, which prioritises strengthening animal health systems.

The Jakarta sessions (April 22-23) centred on high-level discussions with the Directorate General of Livestock and Animal Health Services (DGLAH). Participants explored how APCOVE's initiatives could integrate with Indonesia's broader animal health infrastructure, addressing the unique challenges of managing disease outbreaks across thousands of islands while coordinating diverse stakeholder groups. These discussions provided crucial insights into Indonesia's veterinary workforce structure, identifying existing strengths and areas where targeted training could deliver the greatest impact.

The final day in Yogyakarta, hosted with Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), brought an academic lens to the consultations. Faculty members and researchers shared experiences with current epidemiological training approaches, exploring how APCOVE's modules could integrate into existing educational programs for sustainable institutional transformation.

The consultations embodied APCOVE's One Health approach through truly multidisciplinary participation. Conversations explored practical challenges, including enhancing cross-sectoral collaboration during outbreak responses and preparing professionals for the interconnected challenges of modern disease management.

The Activity 4 Team is delighted to announce that three abstracts have been accepted for presentation at prestigious international conferences in 2025. These presentations will share insights from APCOVE Activity 4 workshops held in late 2024, which identified the core competencies required by veterinary epidemiology teachers and mentors. This work informs faculty development initiatives aimed at strengthening veterinary epidemiology education and developing a sustainable teaching workforce across the Asia-Pacific region.

Association for the Study of Medical Education (ASME) Annual Conference, Edinburgh, 1–3 July 2025

Faculty development for educators: building capacity across the Asia-Pacific region in veterinary epidemiology teaching skills

Presenter: Prof Annette Burgess

Science Week 2025, organised by the Australian and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS), Gold Coast Australia, 24–26 July 2025

Building veterinary epidemiology capacity – Equipping the teachers and mentors

Presenter: Prof Jenny-Ann Toribio

8th International Conference on Faculty Development in the Health Professions (ICFDHP), Barcelona, 23–24 August 2025

Faculty development for educators: building capacity across the Asia-Pacific region in veterinary epidemiology teaching skills

Presenter: Prof Annette Burgess

These acceptances reflect the growing recognition of our efforts to build sustainable capacity in veterinary epidemiology education across the Asia-Pacific. We look forward to sharing our work with international colleagues and learning from their experiences.

The consultations were led by Professor Joerg Henning (The University of Queensland), with support from Professor Marta Hernandez-Jover (Charles Sturt University), Dr. Andy McFadden (Animal Health and Biosecurity Services Ltd), and Dr. Shukriti Sharma (The University of Queensland). 

During the consultations, structured focus group discussions were conducted with national stakeholders and representatives from international organisations to obtain a comprehensive understanding of the existing outbreak response mechanisms, historical training activities, and current capacity gaps. These discussions aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of local systems, prioritise animal diseases for targeted training, and explore institutional, logistical, and technical challenges influencing outbreak responses. Sessions with international organisations were instrumental in mapping previous capacity-building efforts, identifying opportunities for strategic collaboration, and ensuring that future initiatives avoid redundancy. Information gathered during these consultations will be used to ground the planned training activities in local contexts and to align them with national priorities.

The APCOVE team also convened meetings with local project coordinators to plan the implementation of a forthcoming questionnaire survey with frontline responders to disease outbreaks and to discuss logistical arrangements for the upcoming outbreak investigation training activities scheduled for early 2026. 

Tell us a bit about yourself

I am Melanie F. Pescadilla, currently serving as the City Veterinarian of Bais City. I also hold the position of President of the Provincial, City, and Municipal Veterinarians League of the Philippines, and serve as a Board Director and Diplomate of the Philippine College of Veterinary Epidemiologists.

I have been working in the local government since February 2001. I am an active member of the City Nutrition Council and lead the Local Nutrition Early Warning System (LNEWS) team. From 2020 to 2022, I served as the Planning Section Chief for the city's COVID-19 response operations. I am also a member of the City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council, contributing to the management of various disaster-related events. Most recently, during the African Swine Fever (ASF) outbreak, I was designated as the Incident Commander.

What was the most important thing you learned from the APCOVE Field Epidemiology Training?

The project made me realise that epidemiology is not just about data analysis—it’s about understanding disease in a holistic manner. This includes recognising the disease itself, assessing risks and available evidence, and translating scientific knowledge into realistic, practical, and community-acceptable policies, programs, and projects. It's not only about conducting research, but also about applying and implementing it effectively at the grassroots level.

The APCOVE project opened new opportunities for me and broadened my perspective on managing disease challenges, both within my workspace and in the wider community.

Through the skills I acquired—particularly in field epidemiology—I’ve gained the confidence to share my experiences with other local government units in responding to animal disease emergencies and implementing health programs. I have been able to directly apply lessons from the training to my day-to-day responsibilities.

How have you applied or used these skills in your work?

African Swine Fever (ASF) Outbreak Response
Since the Department of Agriculture (DA) confirmed the first ASF outbreak in July 2019, the disease has affected all regions of the Philippines (BAI, 2024). In Bais City, the smallholder swine sector—comprising 100% of the swine population—was severely impacted. Implementation of biosecurity practices remains a significant challenge due to the lack of basic infrastructure needed to prevent the introduction of pathogenic agents.

To control the outbreak, we implemented key components including risk assessment, surveillance and monitoring, strengthening of biosecurity measures, and awareness campaigns—strategies I learned through the APCOVE training.

Thanks to the coordinated efforts of various departments and agencies, ASF was successfully contained in Bais City on August 20, 2023.

Evidence-Based Policy
Prior to the introduction of ASF in the city, I conducted a study titled Assessment and Strengthening of Biosecurity Practices of Swine Farms in Bais City, Negros Oriental. This research was funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia) as part of the Asia Pacific Consortium for Veterinary Epidemiology (APCOVE) Project. The study aimed to evaluate and improve biosecurity measures across swine farms in 35 villages of Bais City. It used a structured questionnaire covering farm demographics and operations, along with a biosecurity audit tool developed by the Philippine College of Swine Practitioners.

The study identified key gaps in biosecurity practices. The findings were instrumental in shaping local policy, contributing to the development of the Bais City Veterinary Code. This ordinance emphasized the importance of local registration of animal facilities, the implementation of biosecurity protocols, and the One Health approach. It also clarified the roles of village officials in disease prevention and control and expanded local policies to cover other animal diseases of public health and economic significance.

Programs and Projects
One of the most valuable lessons I gained through APCOVE was the importance of evidence-based practice and the One Health approach. Conducting research within local government units (LGUs) is still uncommon, despite its critical role in informing policy and improving implementation of local interventions. LGUs must be resilient and proactive in addressing diseases of both public health and economic importance.

In 2022, I conducted two studies in coordination with other departments, demonstrating One Health in action at the community level. For example, the Rabies–One Health Approach involved joint monitoring and surveillance efforts by the City Health and Veterinary Offices. Village-based Nutrition Scholars facilitated information campaigns in schools and mothers’ classes across local communities, integrating health education with surveillance efforts.

Have you developed any guidelines, SOPs, or implemented significant changes in your department as a result?

Key findings from two studies—Assessment and Strengthening of Biosecurity Practices of Swine Farms in Bais City, Negros Oriental and Impact of One Health–Rabies Implementation During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Dog and Rabies Cases, Bais City—were instrumental in the drafting of a comprehensive ordinance entitled the Bais City Veterinary Code, which is now in its first year of implementation.

The ordinance marks a significant shift from the city’s conventional approach, placing strong emphasis on the One Health framework for disease prevention, mitigation, and control. It introduces several innovative measures, including:

In addition to leading these local initiatives, I have actively contributed to various technical discussions at both local and national levels. These engagements focused on the development of guidelines and policies related to animal disease prevention, control strategies, and biosecurity.

Furthermore, I contributed to the development of the Biosecurity Manual, with a particular focus on adapting strategies for smallholder systems.

What advice would you give to current APCOVE trainees?

In this program, you will learn at your own pace—but be mindful of deadlines. Effective time management is essential to balance your professional responsibilities with the demands of this training.

If you are given the opportunity to conduct research, choose a topic that is relevant to your current role, feasible within your area of jurisdiction, and achievable within the allotted timeframe. Select a topic that will allow you to apply your skills and maximise your potential. You will be mentored by leading experts in the field, so don’t hesitate to ask questions—engagement is key to growth.

This program gave me the opportunity to present my work and research at the 1st Safetynet Conference in Canberra, the Global Health Security (GHS) Conference, the ISVEE Conference in Sydney, and at various national conferences in the Philippines. It broadened my perspective on managing disease challenges and improved my ability to lead both within my workplace and in the wider community. Importantly, it also helped me expand my professional network—not only among my peers in the Philippines, but across the Asia-Pacific region.

Many of us are facing different circumstances and challenges right now. But remember: you were chosen for a reason. Find that purpose. It is my hope that what you learn through this project will not stop with you. Pay it forward. Our communities are waiting—for you, for us. Let us share the knowledge with those who need it most.

We are pleased to introduce our country partners from Malaysia and Indonesia in this issue of the newsletter.