Press Release
Helping Animal Owners Prepare for El Nino
With predictions for the 2015-2016 El Nino at a 15-year-high, much
of Kenya is on high alert for record flooding. Farmers are among the
most vulnerable to floods, potentially losing their main source of
livelihood to drowning, displacement and disease.
Focusing on the areas where floods are predicted to be at their
highest, the Directorate of Veterinary Services and the County
government of Baringo in partnership with World Animal Protection
and the University of Nairobi are helping animal owners prepare for
the coming floods.
Through a combination of educational messages, mass vaccination
campaigns and technical advice, the goal is to prevent a tragic
repeat of the 2006-2007 floods and its
devastating effect on
farmers and their livestock.
The intervention will cover:
 Immediate vaccinations for animals in Baringo County, Rift
Valley Fever (RVF) hot spot areas to cover 300,000 cattle
against RVF and 4,000 dogs against rabies.
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Veterinary care and immunity building through vitamins, deworming,
and treatment to be given to cattle, sheep ,goats, donkeys, camels
and dogs.
A flood preparedness awareness training for extension officers and
county officials to pass messages to farmers ahead of the onset of
the floods.
Press Release
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Sharing preparedness and survival tips through radio and television
campaigns
Along with preparing animals and their owners against flooding,
prevention of a deadly Rift Valley Fever (RVF) outbreak is a top
priority. Affecting both humans and animals, RVF often ravages
communities during floods leaving death and economic ruin in its
wake.
Following the El Nino of 2006/07, the International Livestock
Research Institute and the Government of Kenya’s, Department of
Veterinary Services identified the Rift Valley Fever outbreak as the
major disease that affected the disaster stricken communities in
Kenya. Together with drownings and starvation, the outbreak claimed
more than 4 billion shillings in livestock sector.
Judy Kimaru, World Animal Protection’s Disaster Operations Manager
for Africa says:
“By taking action now, we can avoid a repeat of the disaster of
2006-2007. The floods this year are predicted to be even worse than
they were eight years ago, but building on lessons we’ve all learned
and recognising the vital role played by livestock in the health and
wellbeing of local communities, we aim to prevent this from
happening again. It is better economically as we know that every
dollar spent in prevention saves an average of seven dollars in
recovery1. It is also better from a public health point of view and
from an ethical, humane standpoint.”
ENDS
Press Release
Note to editors
Contacts
Dr. Kisa Ngeiywa
Director of Veterinary Services
E: Kisajuma@yahoo.com
T: +254 (0) 20 8043441
M: +254 (0) 722376237
H.E Hon Benjamin Cheboi
Governor Baringo County
E: governor@baringo.go.ke
T: +254 (0) 5321077
M: +254 (0) 722720132
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Tennyson Williams
World Animal Protection – Africa Director
E: TennysonWilliams@worldanimalprotection.org
T: +254 (0) 20 72176598
M: +254 (0) 734564106
Prof. Charles Mulei
University of Nairobi Dean Faculty of
Veterinary Medicine
E: dean_vet@uonbi.ac.ke
T: +254 (0) 20 91967
M: +254 (0) 734564106
An accompanying fact sheet of preparedness advice to
farmers is available
Audio and visual public educational materials are
available at: <insert url>