Livestock vaccination campaign underway in Aweil

Community-based animal health workers vaccinating cattle in Aweil. ©FAO/Lieke Visser

Authorities in South Sudan’s Aweil State started a livestock vaccination campaign on Monday.

Authorities in South Sudan’s Aweil State started a livestock vaccination campaign on Monday.

Peter Jok Dut, the director general for the department of animal resources in Aweil State ministry agriculture, forestry and animal resources told Radio Tamazuj that the campaign targets at least 120, 000 livestock mainly cattle and goats.

“In the whole of Aweil state we are targeting 120,000 heads of cattle. We have vaccines for about 5 livestock diseases and the exercise will take 21 days,” he noted.

Jok said the exercise expected to end in March is sponsored by the state government in collaboration with its partners.

Over 65 percent of the population relies on livestock for their survival.

Last year, the UN Food and Agriculture Organization embarked on its biggest ever livestock vaccination campaign in South Sudan, aimed at protecting over 9 million animals from frequent disease outbreaks.