National ASSOCIATION OF DAIRY FARMERS
OF ZIMBABWE
AGRICULTURE HOUSE, ADYLINN RD/MARLBOROUGH DRIVE MARLBOROUGH, HARARE
P.O.Box WGT 390, WESTGATE, HARARE
Telephone 309800, Fax: 309837, email: [email protected]
STABEX ’95 ESSENTIAL VACCINE PROGRAMME
Distribution of vaccines to communal and commercial livestock producers started on the 18th August 2009, and has steadily increased in momentum. With the onset of the rainy season it is anticipated that distribution of particular vaccines will slow down in December 2009 and January 2010. To date over 230 000 bovine doses have been distributed, as well as 2 700 for sheep and 3 150 for pigs.
Ondersteport Biological Products, (South Africa) in conjunction with the NADF ran several training courses/seminars around the country reaching a cross section of livestock producers, vets, vaccinators and producers. The training programme included the etiology of the major livestock diseases, the role vaccines play in disease prevention and most importantly, the storage, handling and administration of vaccines. Approximately 125 commercial livestock producers and several hundred, possibly a thousand or more communal famers have benefited from this programme to date.
Many livestock producers in Zimbabwe were no longer implementing vaccination programmes because of the non-availability of vaccines, the prohibitive cost and the questionable source of vaccines. In addition, vaccines were not always available when needed as several vaccines need to be administered within critical time periods of the year.
The STABEX ’95 Essential Vaccine Programme, apart from disease prevention is stimulating other important issues such as re-creating an accurate data base of livestock producers and generating accurate livestock numbers to establish a national livestock census.
The NADF commends the staff of the Department of Veterinary Services (D.V.S.) for their enthusiasm and commitment to the programme as their role is vital for vaccinating in communal areas which is where the majority of Zimbabwe Farmers’ Union (ZFU) members operate.
The NADF also commends its team who often have to operate long hours beyond the normal call of duty.
R J VAN VUUREN
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF DIARY FARMERS