70,000 livestock vaccinated in Turkana County
Additionally, all livestock underwent deworming to control internal parasites.
The Turkana County Government, in partnership with Welthungerhilfe Kenya (WHH), conducted a nine-day livestock vaccination campaign in Nachuro and Nasinyono, targeting pastoralist communities in Lokichoggio and Turkana West sub-counties.
The initiative, funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (AA/GFFO), aims to safeguard livestock health and support pastoralists facing challenges such as water scarcity and hunger.
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So far, the exercise has benefited 567 households and covered over 70,000 livestock.
During the exercise, animals were vaccinated against Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD), while those showing signs of mange received specialized treatment.
Additionally, all livestock underwent deworming to control internal parasites.
Chief Officer for Livestock Development, Dr Gilchrist Lokoel, confirmed that 38,036 goats and 29,361 sheep received PPR vaccinations and deworming, while 3,228 cattle were vaccinated against LSD.
“This campaign, in partnership with WHH, is essential in preventing disease outbreaks, reducing livestock deaths, and enhancing overall productivity,” Dr Lokoel said.
Dr. Lokoel was accompanied by Director of Veterinary Services Dr. Benson Longor, Deputy Director Dr. Erenius Nakadio, and WHH’s supervision team during the campaign.
The initiative also focused on educating pastoralists on the importance of vaccination, deworming, and disease control, with the county planning routine disease surveillance and assessments in the coming months.
To strengthen disease monitoring, Turkana County is training Community Disease Reporters (CDRs) in border areas to improve early detection and reporting of livestock diseases.
Additionally, they will distribute range cubes, as supplementary feed to help sustain livestock during the ongoing drought.
WHH provided logistical support, while the county government supplied essential veterinary materials.
As part of its broader disease control strategy, veterinary officers have collected blood samples from sick animals for laboratory analysis to investigate suspected cases of brucellosis and other infectious diseases.
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