A big cheer for animal health workers
Chris de Bode / Panos Pictures for Farm Africa
The drylands of Ethiopia’s South Omo zone and Uganda’s Karamoja sub-region are home to thousands of pastoralists who depend on livestock for their livelihoods. But in both regions, pests, disease and drought are wiping out entire herds, meaning high levels of poverty and malnutrition for many families.
As part of its Livestock for Livelihoods project, Farm Africa is helping community animal health workers, like Tukara Doide (pictured above), expand their operations in both regions. In turn, they will deliver vital veterinary services to the 10,000 female pastoralists that the project is supporting to set up goat rearing businesses.
I was selected by Farm Africa to receive training that refreshed and developed my knowledge of animal care. I work in the community, treating goats, sheep and cattle: giving vaccines and de-worming are part of my daily job. I thank Farm Africa for giving animal health workers access to drugs and medicines for the animals. On average, I provide support to 45 households each month. It gives me pleasure to help people in this way. The death rate of animals has declined since the Farm Africa project started. The fear of illness doesn’t bother us as we are well equipped to respond immediately. Recently locusts came to this area. They demolished almost everything on the ground, grazing and farmlands. Our little goats were affected badly as there was nothing on the ground left for them to eat. Farm Africa supported the community by providing us with spraying equipment and medicines. We sprayed crops and plants and succeeded in making the locusts go away.
Tukara Doide
Safeguarding the health of goats means safeguarding women’s ability to have milk for their children and manure for growing crops. Healthy goats mean women like Dawunda (pictured right) can earn an income and lift their families out of poverty.
“I am thankful to Farm Africa for supporting us by making animal health services available in our village. Before, our animals were easily lost to natural disasters and disease outbreaks. Our pastoralist group received ten goats from Farm Africa as well as training in how to care for them. We work with the animal health workers to make sure the goats stay healthy. One of the goats is a buck which we use for crossbreeding. The buck’s name is Lempo, meaning big ears! With the female goats, our plan is to multiply them and use them for milk production.”
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Goat Power
A photographic exhibition featuring images by international award winning documentary photographer Chris de Bode.
The Livestock for Livelihoods project is funded with UK aid from the UK government and Jersey Overseas Aid.
