By Hou Akot Hou
The Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries in Northern Bahr el Ghazal State has launched a livestock vaccination campaign aimed at preventing the spread of diseases, including anthrax and foot-and-mouth disease, among domestic animals.
The week-long vaccination campaign is being conducted in Aweil Centre and Aweil East counties, according to Angelo Ajing Uguak, Director General at the State Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries.
Ajing said the campaign targets both animals suspected of being infected and those that have not yet contracted the diseases.
He said the vaccination teams are providing the service free of charge, particularly to livestock owners in remote areas of the state.
“We are reaching out to animal owners free of charge in Aweil Centre County, where we are targeting about 40,000 animals, while in Aweil East County we will cover 80,000 cattle,” Ajing said.
He explained that the campaign is intended to contain the diseases and prevent deaths among livestock, particularly cattle and goats.
“The vaccination of the cattle is happening in the two counties as we are aiming at containing the two diseases to prevent the deaths of domestic animals, including cows and goats,” he said.
Ajing urged livestock owners to make their animals available to vaccination teams, saying the state ministry is working with international partners to support communities in controlling animal diseases.
“We are trying to ensure that the animals are saved from becoming extinct as a result of known diseases such as anthrax and foot-and-mouth disease, which occur in areas where temperatures and climatic changes can contribute to such infections,” he cautioned.
He said community animal health workers are supporting the vaccination exercise and appealed to livestock owners to cooperate with them by presenting their animals at the appropriate time.
Ajing also revealed that international organisations are supporting the campaign, with World Vision providing vaccines for livestock owners in the targeted communities.
He urged communities to cooperate voluntarily with animal health workers and make their livestock available for vaccination to help protect herds and prevent further spread of diseases.