(ERGO) – Radio Ergo Reporter, Ahmed Nur Yogol, interviewedYarowIssaKahin, Garissa County Minister for Livestock, about the campaign.
Ergo: Brief us about your plan to vaccinate 1 million livestock in Garissa County?
Minister: Yes, we have been working on this for a while. Such a vaccination has never been carried out in this county. Previously we used to do the vaccinations at ward level but this time the vaccinations will go ahead simultaneously in all 30 wards in the county. There are 13 teams, each comprising of two (veterinary) doctors and their assistants, who will be dispatched to different areas. The exercise will go on for 45 days, covering all areas in Garissa county from our borders with Wajir, Isiolo and Tana River. The animals will be vaccinated against various diseases including measles, diseases caused by ticks and worms. The livestock is camels, goats, and cattle. We, therefore, call upon the public to make use of this opportunity. The team will be dispatched this week and we expect the Governor to launch the campaign.
Ergo: Is the vaccination campaign a result of an outbreak of disease or it is a decision by the ministry?
Minister: Currently there is no outbreak of disease but the vaccination is preventive as there was no rain during last deyr season. When the pasture becomes scarce and the livestock do not have sufficient nutrients, their bodies cannot withstand diseases and most likely there may be outbreaks of diseases. Therefore we have to carry out preventive measures and vaccinate the livestock to lessen the impact of diseases. Sick animals will be treated and others will be vaccinated.
Ergo: There are pastoralists who have crossed the border into Somalia in search of water and pasture as there is drought in some parts of Garissa County. Will you wait for them to come back?
Minister: This period, for the next two months, we are planning to treat (only) those livestock within our border because we cannot vaccinate livestock in Somalia.
Ergo: Sometimes, the animals may get infected from other animals. So are there diseases that can be spread across the border?
Minister: Yes, when people move to Somalia or Isiolo with animals and come back later, the unvaccinated sick animals can infect other animals in the area. The vaccinated animals cannot be infected easily. Later when the livestock return, we are informed and we start vaccinating them.
Ergo: What are the common livestock diseases in Garissa County?
Minister: Camels are affected by anthrax and there are many diseases that come as a result of tick bites and tsetse fly, while goats are affected by measles, ‘Berfur’, and ‘gerdowr’.
Ergo: Are the (vet) doctors from Garissa County or other parts of the country?
Minister: No, they are all from this county and they were recruited by this (county) government. The county consists of seven sub-counties; every sub-county has its own team.
Ergo: Are the doctors employed full time or casual?
Minister: The doctors were employed by this county and they do the work regularly.
