Soroti district gears up for mass livestock vaccination against FMD

SOROTI, July 29, 2024 – The Soroti district production department intends to mass vaccinate livestock against the contagious Foot and Mouth Disease [FDM], a viral disease affecting cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs among other domestic animals.

This is after the district received a consignment of 10,000 FMD doses and a refrigerator from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry, and Fisheries [MAAIF].

The delivery of vaccines to Soroti district comes barely two weeks after government received another delivery of three million doses from Egypt to fight FMD.

David Achoroi, the Soroti district Acting Senior Veterinary Officer said vaccines were delivered to the district days ago following a requisition made by the district months ago, following reported isolated cases of FDM in some parts of the district.

He disclosed that massive vaccination exercise to be conducted by the veterinary extension workers is going to commence soon across all the 12 administrative units in the district starting with Tubur Sub-county.

According to Achoroi, the 10,000 doses will be administered to 10,000 heads of cattle.

“As a district we are currently carrying out sensitisation drive to educate farmers about the importance of animal vaccination and encouraging them to establish kraals where the exercise will be carried out,” noted Achoroi.

He urged farmers to embrace the livestock vaccination exercise, saying it would protect animals from FMD.

Achoroi said that there is a tendency of some farmers to shun the vaccination of their animals claiming that the vaccine is not safe and causes premature birth in animals.

“The initiative is vital for controlling and preventing FMD outbreak, which can have severe economic impacts on livestock industry and farmers’ livelihoods. The vaccination drive will help protect cattle, sheep, goats, and other susceptible animals, ensuring their health and productivity,” explained Achoroi.

He warned that farmers who will resist the exercise risk being arrested and prosecuted in the courts of law for sabotaging a government programme.

According to the livestock census, Soroti district statistics show a total of 86,000 herds of cattle.

Simon Peter Edoru Eku, the LCV Chairman Soroti district applauded government for its commitment to eradicate FMD in the country and cautioned veterinary extension workers against extorting money from the famers.

“Despite these vaccines being free of charge, there are some unscrupulous veterinary officers who have made it a habit to commercialise government vaccines by charging famers between Shs 1,000 and 2,000 per vaccinated head of cattle,” said Edoru.

He pointed out that all the costs of administering the vaccines are met by government.

“This business of charging poor farmers for vaccines that are already paid for by taxpayers’ money must stop,” warned Edoru, urging farmers to be vigilant and report any such incidents to the enforcement agencies to enable us to track and weed such culprits from our system.

Meanwhile, the State Minister for Fisheries, Hellen Adoa disclosed that government would follow-up on the vaccines supplied, urging veterinary officer to make a report highlighting how the vaccines were used.

She advised the veterinary officers to begin FMD hotspot areas since the vaccines are not enough for all the animals.

https://thecooperator.news/mbarara-city-govt-launches-mass-vaccination-against-fmd/

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