Veterinarians from Tanzania are conducting a cross-border vaccination exercise for livestock to prevent the outbreak and spread of contagious animal diseases, APA learnt here on Saturday
The livestock, mostly cows, goats and sheep, are being vaccinated against foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and Peste de Petits Ruminants (PPR).
The vaccination is being conducted under the EU-PLACE Project by the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development in collaboration with Kenya’s Directorate of Veterinary Services and the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer in Tanzania, with support from the County Government of Kajiado.
The initiative, dubbed the Pastoralism and Livestock Adaptation to Climate Change in Eastern Africa Programme (PLACE), seeks to promote sustainable and climate-resilient pastoral systems by addressing environmental, economic and social challenges facing pastoral communities.
Targeting goats and sheep, the campaign seeks to curb the spread of PPR, a highly contagious viral disease that affects small ruminants, particularly in border regions where livestock movement is frequent and largely uncontrolled.
During the launch, Kajiado County executive committee member for agriculture, Francis Sakuda reaffirmed the county’s commitment to strengthening livestock disease control through collaboration with the national government and development partners.
He underscored the need for enhanced disease surveillance, increased vaccination coverage and timely veterinary response to safeguard pastoral livelihoods.
Sakuda also urged farmers to cooperate with veterinary officers by presenting their animals for vaccination and reporting any suspected disease outbreaks.
Chief Officer for Agriculture and Livestock, Francis Metian, said over 1,000 goats and sheep had been vaccinated during the exercise, terming the initiative a significant milestone in managing cross-border disease risks.
He noted that the presence of key livestock markets such as Ibissil, which serves traders from both Kenya and Tanzania, necessitates coordinated disease control measures adding that the ongoing rains have increased livestock mobility, making the vaccination exercise timely.
The exercise follows the development of a joint cross-border vaccination calendar between Kenya and Tanzania, aimed at harmonising disease control efforts and controlling trans-boundary animal diseases.
MG/jn/APA