A delegation from the Kenya Women Veterinary Association (KWVA) led by Chairperson Dr Marilyn Karani is in Turkana County for a cats and dogs’ population control exercise as part of zoonosis disease control activity in Kakuma.
The activity will take place from Thursday, March 17, to Saturday, March 19, 2022 and it will include surgical population control of dogs and cats through neutering and spraying as well as vaccination of dogs and donkeys.
Speaking during a courtesy call on Deputy Governor Peter Lotethiro in Lodwar, Dr Karani said Turkana West had been targeted due to statistics showing prevalence of zoonotic diseases in the Sub-County.
She urged the County Government to continuously train experts in the field to increase the number of skilled human resources which was critical for sustainability of the programme. She was accompanied by KWVA Committee Member, Dr Ruphline Margaret.
The team is in the County which kicks off a five-year partnership campaign to eradicate rabies and hydatid diseases in the County.
On his part, Lotethiro, while commending KWVA for its support and for choosing Turkana as a venue for the campaign, he urged partners to collaborate to build the capacity of local veterinary experts who will ensure the sustainability of the campaign.
“I assure you that the county administration will support the vet department to ensure zoonotic disease control is extended across the region through the ‘One Health Programme,” said the Deputy Governor.
He added that the County was investing to equip a veterinary laboratory to limit reliance on labs outside Turkana and cut the cost of transporting samples to Eldoret and Nairobi.
He revealed that the County was also training lab technicians as part of an effort to operationalize the County laboratory.
He at the same time directed the Ministry of Agriculture, Pastoral Economy and Fisheries to ensure the success of the initiative and its sustainability, by bringing on board all partners involved in the ‘One Health Programme’.
Veterinary experts from the KWVA and the County will spearhead the activity at the Ward Administration offices in Kakuma.
County Director of Veterinary Services Dr Benson Long’or, said the experts were using surgical means for population control following a government directive outlawing mass baiting of stray dogs and cats.
Partners involved in the programme include Agency for Cross-border Pastoralists Development (APaD), VSF Germany, Lotus Kenya Action for Development organization (LOKADO) and the International Rescue Committee (IRC).
By Peter Gitonga
