The Disease Prevention and Control Unit will formulate, partly implement and monitor the various national disease prevention and control programmes in the country. The unit will be responsible for annual review and reporting to the authority and time to time revamping of the programmes in close consultation with the different focal persons for different diseases and also the regional veterinary officers and Dzongkhag livestock sector. The Epidemiology and VPH will form sections under this unit because the former is critically essential for assisting the disease prevention/control activities and later is basically a prevention and control of zoonotic diseases. A Clinical Services Section under this unit provides technical backstopping on areas of animal health and attend to emergency cases as and when requested by the field staff in the six mandated Dzongkhags..

Specific responsibilities of the unit are;

1. Initiate formulating plans for various national disease prevention and control programmes in the country
2. Supervise and monitor the implementation of the programmes
3. Review the programmes from time to time in close consultation with the different focal persons for different diseases and also the regional focal units and Dzongkhag focal persons
4. Initiate and develop disease emergency response plans
5. Initiate risk analysis of some important emerging diseases.
6. Supervise and monitor execution of the disease emergency response
7. Lead in developing standards for regulation of animal and animal product import and export
8. Liaise with concerned agencies (BAFRA) on enforcement of Livestock Act and regulations and asses it’s enforcement on the ground. Give feed back to the Department/Ministry on issues regarding enforcement of Livestock Act and regulations

Epidemiology section
The section will be responsible for maintaining disease information system which includes designing formats, collection, storage and analysis of disease data including disease mapping, designing and supervising disease surveys, assisting the unit in formulating rapid response plans and updating of standards for animal diseases for import-export.

The section will be responsible for any epidemiological and economics related functions of the centre which includes;

1. Designing formats for disease reporting/updating of formats as the need arises.
2. Collection, storage and analysis of disease data including disease mapping
3. Designing and supervising disease surveys.
4. Assisting the unit in formulating rapid response plans.
5. Preparing of disease reports for international organizations.
6. Providing appropriate data information to the disease prevention and control unit as and when asked for.
7. Updating of standards for animal diseases for import-export.
8. Economic assessment of important livestock diseases in the country.
9. Economic assessment of disease control programmes and assist the decision making process in selecting the best options.

Veterinary public health section
The section will be generally responsible for addressing the zoonotic disease issues in the country. It will monitor and assist along with the focal person(s) any zoonotic disease control programmes in the country. More importantly the unit will establish closer links with the Public health unit of Ministry of Health and embark on designing surveys and surveillance programmes for zoonotic diseases so as to minimize the risk in human beings.

The section will be generally responsible for addressing the zoonotic disease issues in the country like;

1. Design surveys and surveillance programmes for zoonotic diseases
2. Initiate development of disease prevention and control programmes of the identified zoonotic diseases
3. Assist and monitor the implementation of any zoonotic disease control programmes
4. Undertake risk analysis of some important zoonotic diseases.
5. Establish closer links with the Public health unit of the Ministry of Health for implementing coordinated programmes and activities and sourcing of funding

Clinical services section
The section will be responsible for providing clinical services to the near by Dzongkhags as and when requested by the Dzongkhags for cases which the field staff are not capable to handle. The section should be equipped with basic clinical and surgical equipment and medicines/ drugs. The section will in close consultation with the National Veterinary Hospital in Thimphu also advice on the essential drug programme and clinical and surgical equipment and materials to be procured. The section should aim at strengthening the clinical services provided to the clients including upgrading the knowledge of the para-veterinarians working in the field by initiating workshops and trainings for the incumbent staffs.

The specific responsibilities of the section are;

1. Management of a clinical service unit at the Centre
2. Ensure availability of required set of surgical instruments/equipment, diagnostic equipment, and other clinical instrument equipment at the unit
3. Ensure availability of the essential medicines and drugs for emergency use
4. Ensure sufficient sample collection material/container
5. Organize attendance to requests for clinical services from the mandate Dzongkhags in consultation with the Management (on a case by basis)
6. Prepare plans for the technical backstopping visits by the vets to the Extension centres of the six Western mandate Dzongkhags of Paro, Ha, Thimphu, Gasa, Punakha, and Wangdue
7. Prepare roster duties for attending to emergency calls during off office hours and holidays in consultation with the Programme Director
8. Take lead role in organizing inservice training for the paraveterinarians (field staff)
9. Identify upgradation requirements of personnels and appropriate updating of the techniques and procedures
10. In close consultation with the veterinary hospital in Thimphu also advice on the essential drug programme and clinical and surgical equipment and materials to be procured