|
Improvement of livestock productivity in the Sub Saharan African countries is severely
constrained by vector borne diseases/their vectors and inadequate coordinated livestock
disease control policies and programmes. Vector-borne livestock parasitic diseases are
prevalent in almost all the sub-Saharan countries. Ticks and tsetse flies are responsible for the
transmission of some of the most economically important diseases which claim close to 2
million cattle through deaths, annually.
It is estimated that 85% of the rural resource poor populations in the sub-Saharan countries
suffer from food insecurity and poverty which to a great extent is due to the effects of
Trypanosomoses and Tick-borne Diseases (TBDs). Infected animals cannot be used
efficiently for draft power because they lose condition, become less productive or worse still,
become sick and die from the disease. TBDs outbreaks, especially Theileriosis, are
responsible for high mortalities in cattle. The control of TBDs, Trypanosomoses and their
vectors has been in effect for a number of decades in the southern African region. However,
the diseases continue to cause havoc in the livestock industry with the serious consequences
of increased poverty levels in most parts of the region, particularly among rural communities.
In fact, some of these local communities from various countries of the region have over the
years mitigated against livestock diseases through local knowledge of their livestock and
natural/cultural environment. These local knowledge systems and practices need to be
documented and audited for affirmation and validation so that they can be interfaced with
modern interventions for increased livestock productivity.
A comparative review of the six (6) regions of the world on the basis of 14 selected indicators
of social and economic development found that the African region ranked the lowest,
virtually in all indicators of human development and progress. In contrast, the region is
ranked to be highest in socio-political insecurity, ignorance, and the effects of diseases. To
exit from donor aid dependence syndrome, the region will require a radical shift both in the
mindset and development strategy, and the need to encourage deeper and direct involvement
of people at all levels of society in this development plan strategy.
|
