By Hopkin Reporter
In a promising collaboration aimed at bolstering animal health and food security in the region, the County Executive Committee Member (CECM) for Agriculture and Livestock, Dr. Stephen Kimwele, hosted a delegation from Veterinaires Sans Frontieres (VSF) in partnership with the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH). The delegation was led by Maurice K. Kiboye, the Country Director for Kenya and Somalia.
The partnership between Veterinaires Sans Frontieres (VSF) and the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) is set to undertake a vital project entitled ‘Prevention and Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (PC-TADs)’ in Kitui, Embu, and Tharaka Nithi counties. This ambitious project is scheduled to run from October 2023 to December 2024.
The core objective of this initiative is to support a Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) vaccination campaign through a multifaceted approach, which includes key stakeholders’ engagement, community awareness and mobilization, analysis of livestock movement routes, development of a sustainable vaccination framework, mobilization, training, and Sero-Surveillance of PPR, and operationalization of field activities.
VSF and WOAH are actively seeking support to establish a robust foundation for the successful implementation of this project in the county. The primary aim of the meeting with Dr. Stephen Kimwele was to ensure a seamless launch of the project and the engagement of relevant stakeholders within Kitui County.
This transformative project has received financial backing from the Germany Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) under the ‘Prevention and Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases for the benefit of Smallholder Farmers’ (PC-TAD) initiative. The overarching objective of the PC-TAD project is to enhance food security and increase livestock-related income for smallholder farmers in selected target regions, while also focusing on the control of zoonotic diseases.
The vaccination efforts will be systematic, with a focus on covering hotspots in the counties and subsequently addressing herds near these hotspot areas. Maurice Kiboye, the Country Director for Kenya and Somalia, emphasized that the supported counties will collaborate closely with the organization in delivering the project activities, ensuring its success.
Dr. Stephen Kimwele, the CECM for Agriculture and Livestock, warmly welcomed the partnership and expressed his belief in the significant benefits it would bring to livestock farmers in the county. He reaffirmed the county government’s commitment, under the leadership of Governor Dr.Julius Malombe, to work with all development partners for the betterment of the county and its people, expressing anticipation for more such collaborative ventures.
The meeting was also attended by the Chief Officer Livestock, Jonathan Kyambi, and Director Livestock, Dr. Josphat Maluki
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