The Directorate of Livestock and the Frontier Counties Development Council are carrying out a 10-day livestock vaccination drive in Garissa county.
The targeted wards are Saka, Modogashe, Shantabak, Jarajila and Abakaile.
Livestock director Dr Haret Hambe said this is in response to increased reports of sheep and goat pox disease outbreak and camel trypanosomiasis in the targeted wards.
He said the drive involves the vaccination of at least 200,000 small stock against sheep and goat pox and contagious caprine pleuropneumonia to benefit at least 6,000 pastoralist households.
Hambe was speaking in Faryar village, Modogashe ward, during the launch of the vaccination exercise.
It will entail general deworming, spraying against ticks and biting flies including tsetse, treatment of clinical cases, especially camels against trypanosomiasis, and general animal health extension services.
Hambe thanked FCDC for providing fuel and facilitation allowances for the vaccination teams.
“Livestock farming is the backbone of our economy. It is for this reason that the Governor Nathif Jama-led administration remains proactive in treating animals to make sure our farmers do not incur losses,” he said.
“I also urge members of the public, in particular the pastoralists, to take advantage of the free vaccination, deworming and supportive treatment for their livestock."
Hambe said the county government has procured vaccines and drugs being administered and provided vaccination equipment, cold chain storage, vehicles and the technical personnel.
Livestock production in Garissa is the dominant economic activity and plays an integral role in driving the local economy.
More than 80 per cent of the population depend on livestock for their livelihoods and food security.
The sector also accounts for 75 per cent of employment in the rural setup, earning the county approximately Sh10.5 billion from livestock products annually.
Governor Jama earlier said his administration continues to focus on the sector in terms of vaccination, drugs supplies and mass vaccination.
Vaccination goes a long way in building immunity of livestock, hence increasing productivity and income.
