International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Sudanese Ministry of Animal Resources have undertaken a joint vaccination programme to vaccinate livestock against common diseases
The programme, which is a re-launch following the last one held in 2013, will be undertaken continuously until 2021 and is aimed at vaccinating 300,000 animals in North Darfur, 200,000 in Central Darfur, 100,000 in South Darfur and 100,000 in West Kordofan.
In addition to vaccinations, the ICRC and the Ministry are providing agricultural extension training to 100 veterinary technicians from North Darfur, Central Darfur, South Darfur, South Kordofan and Blue Nile States.
Musa was one of the scores of livestock owners who brought their cattle to the vaccination centre in Wadaa in North Darfur. “I had lost 82 cows before the ICRC vaccination exercise came to our rescue,” Musa said.
Speaking about his experience during the period when there was no vaccination activity, Musa lamented that he and other livestock owners had to contend with a high mortality rate among their livestock, despite often coming together through cooperative arrangements to buy vaccines in Al Fashir.
The restart of the livestock vaccination programme by the ICRC is expected to help many animal owners who had managed against all odds to keep their livestock alive in the area.
ICRC noted that Musa assured the team that he will keep bringing his animals to be vaccinated over the next three years that the programme will last and believes that the immunisation will prevent them from being afflicted by any disease.
