GOVERNMENT DEDICATED TO ENSURE A DISEASE-FREE LIVESTOCK POPULATION

President Hakainde Hichilema’s goal to achieve 7 million live animal population targets by 2027 through enhanced production, herd health and marketing to catapult the livestock sector is gaining momentum as 600,000 vaccines have been procured to enhance livestock health in Western, Northern and North-Western provinces of Zambia.

This is evident through the acquisition of the Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) vaccines, which have been dispatched by the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries to the three provinces of Zambia to vaccinate livestock against diseases and expand the functionality of livestock service centres.

Earlier this month, Minister of Livestock and Fisheries Hon Makozo Chikote,MP stated that vaccination campaign have been rolled out towards having a livestock disease free animal population in line with the set Presidential target of reducing animal disease occurrences.

The distribution of vaccines is part of the ongoing mass vaccination exercise as a response by the Government to the recent drought experienced in 84 districts.

The Ministry has dispatched 525 000 doses of CBPP vaccines to the Western Province against a provincial population of 482, 000 cattle. 

The Northern Province received 23,000 doses, which Mbala received 18,000 doses, and Nakonde received 5000. 

In the North-Western Province, the distribution is as follows: Chavuma received 7000 doses, Zambezi 25,000 doses, Kabompo 7000 doses, Manyinga 7000 doses, Mufumbwe 6000, and Mwinilunga 5000 doses.

The distribution of the vaccines is in readiness of vaccination exercise launch to protect livestock against CBPP scheduled to take place in June this year.

The ministry is optimistic that efforts from the government will ensure that the country maximises productivity in the Livestock value chain.