The province of Manica, located in the central region of Mozambique, began a vaccination campaign last Thursday (17) in the district of Vanduzi for around 254,000 cattle, with the aim of preventing diseases such as anthrax, symptomatic anthrax, brucellosis and foot-and-mouth disease..

The initiative, promoted by the Agriculture and Fisheries sector, will take place over the next three months and also includes the free vaccination of canine and feline animals.

According to a Txopela newspaperDespite the magnitude of the campaign, the number of animals covered fell by more than 12,000 head compared to the previous year, as a result of cattle dying from diseases caused by ticks. The impact of this loss has not gone unnoticed by the provincial authorities, who have announced concrete measures to mitigate the situation.

The provincial governor, Francisca Tomás, who presided over the launch ceremony, guaranteed that the provincial Executive Council will go ahead with a livestock restocking plan in the communities most affected by the death of cattle. The measure envisages the distribution of cattle and goats as a way of restoring the productive base of rural households.

Also during her speech, the governor announced that, by the end of this year, some districts in the province will benefit from the rehabilitation of carracicide tanks, essential infrastructure in the fight against parasites and the control of tick-borne diseases.

Cattle farmers in the Vanduzi district expressed their appreciation for the government's initiative, stressing that free access to drugs and vaccination is an important step towards stable livestock production in the province.

The vaccination campaign is part of a broader effort by the Manica government to strengthen the resilience of rural communities in the face of health threats, while promoting a favorable environment for the sustainable development of livestock farming.

(Photo DR)