The directorate of veterinary services in Kilifi has launched a one-month livestock vaccination campaign targeting 300,000 cows in a move that is geared towards improving health and production in livestock.
According to the county veterinary officer Dr Cornelius Malenga, their focus is to eliminate skin diseases and other communicable diseases among livestock.
“Our target is to eliminate Lumpy Skin Diseases (LSD) among cows and Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP) in goats. We have been doing this exercise over the past due to lack of adequate workforce we are yet to meet the target.” Noted Malenga.
The officer uploaded the effort to initiate the exercise with a root for an increased workforce for easy accessibility of the services at the ward level.
Speaking at Tsangatsini, in Kaloleni Sub County, Malenga revealed that Kilifi has only 10 extension officers, out of the 35 wards leaving a gap that needs to be filled.
However in her address during the official launch of the vaccination campaign exercise, Kilifi county deputy governor, Flora Chibule, assured residents that they were committed to improving the living standards of all locals.
According to Chibule, plans are in place to strengthen veterinary services in the county, particularly in the recruitment of veterinary frontline staff and the provision of transport to improve farmer outreach.
“As we all know, the livestock sector is a critical component of our economy and plays a crucial role in the livelihoods of many people in our county. However, the presence of diseases such as CCPP and LSD has continued to hamper the growth of this sector, leading to significant losses in both productivity and income.” Said Chibule.
The deputy governor noted that their administration was committed to partnering with other stakeholders to create an enabling environment for food security across the county.
Chibule thanked the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for their continued support of the vaccine donation.
Adding that, “as county government, we are determined to have all our livestock get vaccinated annually with the vaccines we are using today. Currently, as a county, we are waiting for procurement of more vaccines”
Farmers in Tsangatsini, led by Ali Bambari Kiyuge, thanked the initiative for the county to consider shouldering vaccination services for their livestock.
“ I rear goats and with the revenging draught, our livestock health is wanting if we could have such services regularly I believe as farmers we will be relieved.” Said Kiyuge.
