Nakamane – May 13, 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
The County Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Benson Long’or has instructed veterinary field officers camping at Turkwel and Lobei/Kotaruk Wards in Loima Sub-county, to proactively attend to all the animals in the ongoing targeted vaccination and supportive treatment.
Dr Long’or was speaking on Tuesday morning in Nakamane village, when he visited the four field teams spread over across the two wards. He further appreciated them for the job well done after vaccinating and treating over 67,000 animals.
“The joint livestock vaccination and supportive treatment activity by county government and Concern World Wide (CWW) has so far reached more than 67,000 livestock across 450 households in several village units in Turkwel and Lobei/Kotaruk Wards. The areas covered include Nakwei,Kangaregai, Lopipirai, Nabuin, Napeikar, Nadapal, Aderoit and Nakurio kraals in Naipa, Lomil, Nakamane Namoruarengan, Kangalita, Natuntun and Nameyana,” Disclosed the Director.
Noting that Loima Sub-county host large livestock population in Turkana County, and therefore, serves as a critical dry-season grazing area. With recent rains, Dr Long’or acknowledged it received a significant influx of livestock from other sub-counties, increasing the risk of disease transmission due to uncontrolled animal movement and intermingling of herds.
For this reason, the Veterinary Doctor said, Turkwel and Lobei/Kotaruk, experienced a high concentration of incoming livestock, which has led to the cross-contamination of healthy and infected animals. This triggered upsurge and widespread livestock disease outbreaks.
“Reports from the Kenya Animal Bio-surveillance System (KABS) and E-surveillance platforms informed the decision to narrow down to the two wards, hence need for immediate intervention to buffer vaccination, deworming, treatment of sick animals, and livestock husbandry extension services,” remarked Director Long’or.
On the same note, Concern World Wide Senior Livelihoods Programme Officer, Charles Eris, says, “we are honored for the 10-day logistical support we gave to the field teams. Also, grateful for the partnership with Veterinary Services Department for committing to provide the veterinary supplies, equipment and technical personnel to have this activity rolled out with immediate effect to save our animals, failure to which, would have dire consequences thereafter to the pastoralist’s livelihood.”
Lokoukwe Loitakol, 73, an elder in Nakamane, whose animals were being vaccinated at the time, said the vaccination was timely and prompt to the needs of the community. He however, raised concern over the animals that have migrated to and concentrated in Kolioro, Lolemugete, Kobarach and Kaitese if they would benefit from the campaign.
The Administrator for Nakamane Village, David Eliokono, 35, divulged that thorough mobilization and awareness creation prior to the livestock vaccination activity, helped the field team to vaccinate and treat many animals. Notably, he observed some of his villages across Turkwel river that include Lochor-esekon, Moruese, Napak, Kalomegur and Nakoyo-angisikiria might not benefit from the ongoing vaccination campaign. Eliokono pleaded with the government and the Concern World Wide for more days extension for the unreached areas.
