Lokichar, Tuesday, May 27, 2025 (Public Communications and Media Relations)
The County Government has trained 14 new Community Animal Disease Reporters (CADRs) adding to 764, total number of reporters stationed countywide.
This has been through the support of a USAID-funded Integrated Emergency Drought Response Project (IEDRP), jointly implemented by Turkana Pastoralist Development Organization (TUPADO), and International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Loima and Turkana South.
During this event in Lokichar, the CADRs have asked the County Government to fast track the finalization of the Regulations 2024, which provides guidelines to the implementation of the Turkana Animal Health Act 2023.
They were urging with the government to speed up the finalization of the Regulations of the Act for their facilitation and support.
Maraka Lomoriakipi, one of the CADRs from Lobei/Kotaruk – Loima, says, “we are now fully trained than before. Thanks to County Government and TUPADO. However, we would be more grateful if the Regulations of the Act would be finalized any time soon, for us to enjoy our sweat, just like Community Health Promoters do.”
On other hand, Lowose Emeri a CADR in Lokichar – Turkana South, expressed his satisfaction on the knowledge and the skills they have acquired through the training. He asked for the provision of the toolkit, going forward.
“I convey the team’s regards to the facilitators of the training. I confide we are grateful, and going home more knowledgeable and skilled than we were. And therefore, we are asking for more trainings and provision of toolkist.”Emeri stated.
Presiding over the issuance of certificates of completion to the trainees, Deputy Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Erenius Nakadio thanked the CDRs following a completion of the training curriculum. This was after satisfactory results posted, following a rigorous practical and oral examination administered by him.
At the event, he underscored the critical role they play in livestock disease surveillance especially in reporting animal disease syndromes using a mobile application, feeding into the county’s e-surveillance and the national Kenya Animal-Biosurveillance Systems for analysis and action.
“I am happy you are now conversant with the use of a smartphone mobile application to report disease symptoms, animal locations, and other relevant information. The digital approach, coupled together with the knowledge and networks of the Disease Reporters, will lead to more efficient, targeted disease prevention and effective control efforts,”he said.
The use of CADRs, Nakadio revealed, has strengthened close linkages among pastoralists, veterinary officers and other sector stakeholders, contributing to a more coordinated response to livestock diseases.
Responding to the concern raised on the full implementation of the Act, Nakadio said, “Turkana Animal Health Act 2023 is under implementation. However, process of formulating the regulations to actualize the clause on CADRs is ongoing, with plans to be completed soon, and eventually implemented in the FY’25/26.”
The Project Coordinator for IEDRP, Simon Echom noted that the Disease Reporters will ensure no case goes unnoticed at the community level. And they will limit the spread of livestock diseases.
“This is a model for grassroot collaboration that will boost local surveillance system and will enhance timely response to disease threats. CADRs will strengthen and safeguard livestock from diseases that often pose a threat to Turkana people’s only major livelihood asset,”confirmed Echom.
The newly trained CADRs will now play a key role in reporting and managing livestock health issues, contributing to the overall animal health across the two sub- counties.
