A vaccination and treatment campaign targeting over a half a million head of livestock continues in parts of southern Mudug region of Somalia for a second successive week.
The campaign, funded by ICRC, aims to treat mainly goats and camels from diseases including worms, tick transmitted disease, skin diseases and external parasites.
More than 30 veterinary doctors have been deployed in remote rural areas to carry out the exercise.
The local pastoralist community welcomed the campaign. Pastoralist Dahir Wehliye Adan in Qaranrow village near Hobyo district, whose livestock was treated, said the campaign was timely. “They [vets] arrived when some of my goats were almost dying of treatable diseases. I lost many goats,” he said. “This is timely medication and I thank the organizers.”
Ali Awale, a vet, told Radio Ergo most livestock suffered from tick transmitted diseases and other treatable diseases. He said many of his goats died due to lack of treatment, but now he was happy because he got the help he needed for his livestock.
Biyod Farah, another livestock keeper, welcomed the vaccination campaign saying drought and lack of water caused many of his animals to fall sick and become weak.
Galmudug health minister, Ahmed Sharif Omar, said it was the first such campaign to be conducted in the region but he feared there would not be enough drugs available to cover the needs of the entire pastoralist community in the region.
“Since livestock is the main source of income for pastoralists, it is important to treat their livestock, so we are requesting concerned international aid agencies to join and help us in the completion of the project,” he said.
