A veterinary laboratory for the pastoral communities Karamojong

Project N. 010/P

Location: Karamoja Region, North East Uganda

Duration: Biennial 2005 – 2007 renown 2012; renown 2013-2017. Ongoing.

Here follow the general activities of the laboratory:

• diagnostic activity: diagnostic services for main diseases present in the territory (serological, parasitological and bacteriological tests).

• prognosis and treatment of infections and bovine, sheep and goats pathologies.

• consulting and technical assistance services to breeders and district veterinary authorities on livestock management and productivity matter.

• surveys and epidemiologic studies in collaboration with the district.

• awareness raising and health educational activities to district veterinary authorities and to the population through the employment of opinion leaders and sensitizers.

• Training activity for village veterinary assistants (Community Animal Health Workers).

• provision of medicines, veterinary vaccines and kits for breeders.

• activity of support for Karamoja districts veterinary offices and FAO.

• provision of veterinary and consulting services for the communities in Karamoja.

During 2017, since no projects were carried out in the zootechnical field, the laboratory was involved in the Water sector, analyzing samples from drinking water and water for production.

The analyzes were carried out on a total of 42 new perforated wells, 100 rehabilitated with the Water - CEI funding program and 120 rehabilitated in the project in response to the Niña phenomenon. Water analyzes have been introduced into other structures such as basins and ponds.

At the end of 2016:

Water analysis of perforated / rehabilitated wells

- 69 wells and 40 structures: cisterns for water collection and water basins for agriculture and livestock.

Vaccinations and supportive treatments against: fever (FMD) of cattle, contagious goat pleuropneumonia (CCPP) and PPAR POX disease that affects goats and sheep. In total treated 1,891 cattle, 4,467 goats and sheep in the Nadunget sub-county; 3.905 cattle, 712 goats and sheep in the subcontea of Tapac; 8,195 cattle in the sub-community of Rupa for a total of 19,170 treated cattle.

Results 2015:

In addition to the above activities and to the ones related to water tests on drilled/rehabilitated boreholes, the laboratory focused its activities in the following projects.

Getaway Center Projects: 88 students trained on animal health management techniques.

Animal vaccination:

• 22183 cattle vaccinated against FMD ( foot and mouth disease);

• 46874 cattle vaccinated against CBPP (contagious bovine phreneumonia);

• 24462 goats vaccinated against CCPP (contagious caprine phreneumonia);

• 52900 sheep vaccinated against PPR (peste des petit ruminant).

189 diseased head of cattle have been treated and other 24 have been treated against worms.

Training of 35 paraveterinaries.

2014: results

The laboratory has been involved in theoretical and practical training for paraveterinari for 6 months of children between 15 and 35 years of the project "C & D Training Center". From the end of January to April, 18 young people were trained. From mid-June a second group of young people (made up of 28 participants) was recruited and trained by the end of December.

The veterinary laboratory was also involved in the project "Improvement of the ability to manage risks caused by natural disasters and strengthening the capacities of the communities of Karamoja to cope with them" for the vaccination of livestock, after the occurrence of some outbreaks: vaccinated 161,241 cows against "LSD" and "CBPP" (pleuropneumonia) in the district of Amudat.