Ethiopia embarks on an unprecedented livestock vaccine drive

Addis Ababa, December 20, 2022 (FBC) – Ethiopia has embarked on an unprecedented livestock vaccine drive in a bid to battle cow pox, according to Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI Alliance).

With 70.2 million cattle, 42.9 million sheep, 8 million camels, and 52 million goats, Ethiopia has the largest livestock population in Africa and the fifth largest in the world, according to the data from the Ethiopian Agricultural Authority and the World Bank Group.

The livestock sector accounts for around one-fifth of the country’s economy and close to 10% of its exports, which means that disease outbreaks like Lumpy skin disease and Peste des Petits Ruminants (Ovine Rinderpest) have a significant impact on the people.

With the aim of preventing the spread of livestock disease, a one-month animal vaccination campaign was rolled out in late 2022 in the pastoralist districts of Ethiopia’s Southern region. In the South Omo zone, the vaccine was administered in five districts: Dassenech, Hamer, Gnangatom, Bena Tsemay and Salamago.

Over 2.5 million cattle, sheep and goats in 16 woredas throughout the region were vaccinated for Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CCPP), Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and Sheep and Goat Pox (SGP).

The immunisation campaign, which was organised by the regional agricultural bureau and financially supported by FAO and VSF Germany, has benefited a total of 25,111 pastoralist members, according to the region’s Bureau of Agriculture.

“As we border countries like Kenya and South Sudan, there is the high likelihood of transmission of diseases across the borders. Therefore, in addition to ensuring strong border control to minimise the movement of animals across the borders, livestock vaccination plays an important role in preventing outbreaks and minimising the damage caused by such animal diseases,” says Kalkidan Shimelis, Head of the Animal Health Department at the region’s Bureau of Agriculture.

He adds, “Though our success will only be measurable in the coming seasons when we see the number of animals that do not become infected with seasonal diseases, we have completed the campaign successfully and accomplished our targets.”

Kalkidan also said that because many in the pastoralist communities believe that animals should not be treated unless they are infected, community animal health workers have played an important role in this campaign.

“This campaign would not be successful without the service of these volunteers. In three months’ time, we plan to roll out another vaccination campaign in these areas to further strengthen the immunity of our livestock,” he says.

He goes on to say, “We procure the vaccines from The National Veterinary Institute (NVI) and distribute accordingly. We have also been aggressive in our immunisation drives because the drought that has lasted over the last three years causes disease outbreaks as well.”

Some of the challenges include tracking the pastoralists amid harsh weather and difficult terrain, as well as a shortage of cold storage facilities and managing vaccine cold chain, as per Gavi Alliance.