February 15, 2024 (Public Communication and Media Relations)

The County Government has rolled out a livestock vaccination and treatment activity integrated with tsetse fly and trypanosomiasis control in areas of Turkana West, Lokiriama, and Lokichoggio Sub-counties.

The exercise, conducted in conjunction with Welthungerhilfe Kenya (WHH) and the Kenya Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Council (KENTTEC), is targeting 100,000 livestock for vaccination and treatment; particularly for lumpy skin disease for cattle and Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia (CPP) as well as deworming.

While overseeing the exercise, the County Executive for Agriculture, Livestock Development, and Fisheries Dr Anthony Apalia noted that the exercise is intended to boost livestock production through disease prevention.

“The focus is on prevention of disease outbreaks that threaten the pastoralists’ livelihood hence the need to enhance surveillance and vaccination,” he said.

Livestock Production Chief Officer, Dr Ezekiel Etelej, also said that there was a need for frequent vaccination of livestock especially in disease-prone areas.

The CCO said that livestock and veterinary officers have been deployed in those areas to ensure all livestock are vaccinated.

The Director for Veterinary Services, Dr Benson Longor, pointed out that the department had conducted community mobilization and sensitization on the importance of vaccination and treatment as it would stop infections and the spread of recurring diseases.

The exercise will assist the department in intervening in areas that previously posed a challenge to conduct proper disease surveillance and control.

The areas covered are Lokiriama/ Urum in Lokiriama Sub-County, Loreng/Lokipoto, and Kalobeyei/Nalapatui in Turkana West Sub-County.