Vaccination Programme in Uganda

UGANDA - The United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation is carrying out mass vaccination of goats, sheep and cattle in the Karamoja region of Uganda against Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and contagious Bovine Pleuro Pneumonia (CBPP).

9 July 2009

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Africa

The programme is being conducted together with the Government of Uganda.

According to Percy Misika, the FAO representative in Uganda, the exercise targets about 1,350,000 cattle and 1,900,000 goats and sheep, a report in All Africa says.

The programme, jointly funded by the UN Central Emergency Response Fund, the government of Ireland, Italy and FAO is costing about $1 million.

Through UN OCHA, the UN Central Emergency Response Fund contributed $700,000, while the government of Ireland gave $116,000 and Italy provided $150,000. The FAO Technical Cooperation Programme contributed $125,000.

The Ugandan government is also to fund the vaccination of an additional 500,000 small ruminants.

During the vaccination campaigns, other treatment of sick animals, spraying against ticks and de-worming is also being carriued out.

The vaccination teams are also carrying out a livestock census in the Karamoja region. All the teams are recording the livestock numbers and other herd characteristics such as age and sex.

The vaccinated goats and sheep are ear notched and cattle are being branded with district/county specific identification numbers in order to minimise cattle thefts and raids among the Karimojong and neighbouring communities. This information will also be used by the government and development partners in programme planning.