•The Exercise is Aimed at Shielding Over 600,000 Animals from Deadly Diseases
Garissa County, Kenya| In a strategic move to curb the spread of deadly livestock diseases and safeguard livelihoods in northern Kenya, the Garissa County Government has rolled out a comprehensive 10-day free mass vaccination campaign targeting over 600,000 animals in the Dadaab and Fafi sub-counties.
The initiative, partly funded by the Danish Refugee Council, aims to protect camels, cattle, goats, and sheep from the highly contagious Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
These transboundary animal diseases (TADs) pose a constant threat to pastoralist communities, especially in areas bordering Somalia, where disease transmission is more likely due to cross-border animal movements.
Speaking during the official launch in Dadaab, Garissa County Executive Committee Member for Livestock, Milgo Dubow, emphasized the urgency and importance of the campaign, particularly in the two sub-counties.
“An outbreak of these deadly diseases could be catastrophic. Livestock is the primary source of income and sustenance for more than 90 percent of households in Dadaab and Fafi. This vaccination campaign is not only timely but crucial to the survival of their economic livelihoods,” said Dubow.
She added that the first phase of the campaign would primarily focus on the refugee camps and adjacent host communities, while the second phase, scheduled for June 2025, will concentrate on broader host community areas.
The vaccination exercise is part of a broader animal health intervention package.
In addition to immunizations, the campaign includes parasite control, treatment of clinical cases, site-level disease surveillance through the Kenya Animal Bio-Surveillance (KABS) mobile application, and on-the-job training for Community Disease Reporters (CDRs).
This multifaceted approach is designed to enhance local capacity for early disease detection and rapid response, especially in hard-to-reach pastoralist regions.
Livestock owners in the targeted areas are being urged to cooperate fully by presenting their animals for vaccination.
The county government hopes to boost the immunity of the regional herd, ultimately improving productivity, enhancing food security, and increasing household incomes.
Ali Hared, Chairman of the Fafi Development Committee, commended the county administration for prioritizing livestock health, particularly during the rainy season when disease outbreaks are most prevalent.
“This campaign has come at the perfect time. With the rains here, we often see a spike in livestock diseases. The vaccinations will help us avoid the devastating losses we’ve experienced in the past,” said Hared.
Equally appreciative was Khalif Jelle, Chairman of the Hagardera Refugee Community, who lauded the initiative as a milestone for refugee communities often overlooked in public health interventions.
“This is the first time we are witnessing such a gesture. Despite being refugees, many of us rely on livestock for our livelihoods. We are truly grateful,” Jelle stated, while appealing for an extension of the campaign period should some animals remain unvaccinated after the initial 10-day window.
Livestock remains the economic backbone of Garissa County, supporting more than 80 percent of its population.
As climate change continues to intensify the frequency of droughts and floods in the region, ensuring animal health through preventive measures like vaccination is increasingly becoming a critical component of resilience-building among pastoralist communities.
The Garissa County Government has pledged to continue working with partners and community leaders to expand and sustain animal health interventions across the region.
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