By Derrick Omoding
The production department of Kapelebyong District has announced a strategic two-month roadmap to vaccinate 43,500 cattle against Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
This initiative follows the receipt of 43,500 doses of the FMD vaccine from the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries.
The vaccination campaign is set to commence on December 11, 2024, and will run until February 14, 2025. The program will kick off in Alito Sub County from December 11 to 13, 2024, followed by a sequential rollout across various sub-counties.
The schedule for the vaccination exercise is as follows:
Okungur Sub-County: December 18-20, 2024
Obalanga Sub-County and Town Council: January 8-10, 2025
Kapelebyong Town Council: January 15-17, 2025
Kapelebyong Sub County: January 22-24, 2025
Akoromit Sub County: January 29-31, 2025
Acowa Sub-County and Town Council: February 5-7, 2025
Acinga Sub County: February 12-14, 2025
In a letter dated December 2, 2024, the Chief Administrative Office urged senior assistant secretaries and Town Clerks to collaborate with parish chiefs and town agents to mobilize their communities in constructing temporary crushes.
This will facilitate the veterinary team’s work during the vaccination campaign.
Emmanuel Ekolu, the Acting District Veterinary Officer, emphasized that the vaccination effort will proceed from one parish to another due to the district’s understaffing.
He stressed the importance of cooperation from local farmers to ensure the success of the vaccination program.
Ekolu also issued a warning to farmers about the consumption of milk and meat from vaccinated cows, advising them to abstain from these products for three days and seven days post-vaccination, respectively.
He encouraged farmers to bring their animals to designated vaccination points to aid the veterinary staff in meeting the planned timeline.
According to the latest livestock census, Kapelebyong District is home to approximately 106,000 cattle, with around 21,659 sold during the 2023/2024 financial year.
This vaccination initiative aims to protect the health of the livestock population and enhance the livelihoods of farmers in the reg