Livestock support in South Sudan

07 September 2012

Tackling disease and improving livestock health in South Sudan

Farm Africa has made big advances in 2012 in helping communities in the Kapoeta region of South Sudan to keep their livestock healthy.

Rearing livestock for sale is the main source of income for 80% of the population in this area. Therefore, keeping their livestock healthy and free from disease is crucially important. But, in recent years, hundreds of cattle have been killed in deadly out breaks of anthrax disease. This is why Farm Africa has, in recent months, been working closely with communities to improve the health of their livestock and to build their ability to combat livestock disease.

• Working in partnership with local authorities, we have provided 16 farmers with specialist training in how to manage and look after livestock vaccinations. The vaccinations are only effective if kept in carefully controlled conditions in a fridge. Having now returned to their local county areas, these farmers are responsible for looking after vaccinations and helping to keep local livestock immunised against disease. Keeping livestock healthy and immunised against disease ensures that families have a source of food like milk and meat.
• We are also training Community Animal Health Workers to administer vaccinations and providing them with essential equipment such as syringes, antiseptics and even gumboots.
• We have also built a vetinerary drug store in Kapoeta South District, while another store is being built in Kapoeta North. Both these stores will be equipped with fridges containing vaccines so local farmers have access to the drugs they need at prices they can afford. This will help ensure their livestock can be kept disease-free before eventually selling them for income. 

Find out more about our Food Security and Livelihoods Improvement Project.

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