Mombasa: Livestock experts in Kenya have urged citizens to vaccinate their animals as part of a national initiative to curb livestock diseases that impact both local communities and the national economy. The State Department for Livestock Development is calling for the vaccination of 22 million cattle against foot and mouth disease (FMD) and 50 million sheep and goats against peste des petits ruminants (PPR).
According to Kenya News Agency, Joshua Chepchieng, Secretary Administration at the State Department, emphasized the importance of vaccination as a globally accepted protocol for managing livestock diseases. He announced that the Director of Veterinary Services will collaborate with county counterparts to lead this national vaccination effort. The program aims to mitigate the economic losses caused by livestock diseases, which affect dairy farming and hinder trade.
Dr Sabuni Alex, Managing Director at the Kenya Veterinary Vaccine Production Institute (KEVEVAPI), highlighted the severe impact of FMD outb
reaks on the dairy sector and pastoralist communities. He noted that PPR leads to mass deaths of goats and sheep, causing significant losses for livestock keepers. KEVEVAPI will supply the vaccines, leveraging its long-standing expertise in vaccine production since 1964.
Dr Christopher Wanga, Director for Livestock Policy Research and Regulation, reinforced the necessity of preventing and treating animal diseases to maintain global trade relations. He urged livestock owners to embrace vaccination, cautioning against misinformation and politicization of scientific efforts.
Dr Abram Sangura from the Directorate of Veterinary Services outlined the logistical challenges faced by county governments in achieving sufficient vaccine coverage. He emphasized that at least 80 percent of livestock must be vaccinated to prevent disease spread, and the national government is stepping in to provide necessary resources.
Director of Livestock Production Bishar Elmi announced an initiative to provide bulk milk coolers to da
iry farmers, enhancing milk aggregation and market access. The first phase has already supplied 350 coolers across 38 counties, and an additional 544 sites have been identified for the program’s second phase, set to commence in January 2025.