By Olandason Wanyama
Triggered by harsh drier conditions that may result in the search for water and pasture in the neighbouring Teso sub-region among other areas, Napak district has embarked on vaccinating goats, sheep and cattle to restrict the spread of animal diseases.
Dr Mary Gorreti Kulume, the district veterinary officer, said as many as 100,000 cows could be exposed to diseases as herders migrate in search of water and grass.
She noted that the idea is to cut down risks of the disease burden.
The diseases
Kulume further said an outbreak of disease could leave a devastating effect on household incomes since most people rely on livestock for their wellbeing.
“The month-long exercise will see animals vaccinated against foot and mouth disease, Anthrax and blackwater,” he noted, adding that goats are receiving the vaccine for PPR, CCPP and the goats’ plague, a highly contagious disease characterised by fever, rapid weight loss and pneumonia. Kulume further said besides vaccination, they will also deworm goats and sheep, covering the endo-ecto parasites.
“Animals will have several dosages of acaricides poured on their backs to fight the ticks,” she said, adding that unspecified numbers of cows have died as result of tick-borne diseases.
Kulume said in the last 90 days, there has been a suspected outbreak of blackwater and goat/sheep pox, one of the major reasons we have embarked on the vaccination exercise, with support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO).
She noted that herders face challenges during the dry season when animals congregate at water sources.
Kulume attributed disease spread to animals congregating at water sources during the dry season, since they leave saliva inside the source.
On ticks, she said the East Coast Fever and anaplasmosis are the deadliest diseases in Karamoja, claiming lives of cattle.
However, Kulume urged herders to desist from burning grass while trying to kill ticks.
“The ticks now burrow into the ground and lay their eggs,” she noted, adding that as weather changes with rains and the grass replenishes, the eggs hatch and later young ticks cling on the grass. The life cycle continues with little disruption,” he observed.
John Paul Kodet, the district chairperson, urged herders to take their animals for vaccination.
He added that only those with certificates will be allowed to graze their animals in the neighbouring Teso district.
“We want all the animals vaccinated to avoid spread of disease ahead of the dry season migration,” Kodet emphasised, while launching the one[1]month long vaccination for Napak district at Nakichumet grazing ground in Matany sub-county last Saturday.
He said the exercise will also be used to identify the number of animals kept by each herder to avoid future exaggeration.
“Getting to know the right numbers has been a headache over the years,” Kodet said, adding that in case of thefts we will know that so and so had a particular number of cattle.
Farmers speak out
One Sagal, a herder from Lokapel village, Matany sub-county in Napak district applauded the Government for the timely intervention.
Sagal said he lost several animals during the heightened insecurity in Karamoja due to diseases and limited service delivery.
“We still need a lot of help from Government and partners,” he noted.
Another herder, Jimmy Pulkol, urged local governments to organise sensitisation meetings on diseases.
“We have lost many animals because we do not know what to do,” Pulkol said.
