Garissa county launches vaccination drive for 60,000 livestock in Dadaab

The Garissa county government started a livestock vaccination campaign to protect 60,000 animals in Dadaab and nearby areas.

The Department of Livestock and Veterinary Services is carrying out the work alongside the Food and Agriculture Organisation. The initiative targets the Dagahaley, Ifo, and Hagadera refugee settlements, as well as the wards of Fafi, Jarajila, Labasigale, Damajale, and Dadaab.

County officials stated that the movement of animals from different parts of Garissa and across the border increased the risk of disease transmission. The program aims to strengthen animal health systems and protect the livelihoods of households that rely on livestock. Besides vaccinations, the exercise provides treatment for sick animals, vector control, extension services, and disease surveillance to help detect infections early.

Forty Community Disease Reporters, who were trained under an EU-funded program, are assisting the campaign by mobilizing livestock keepers and reporting outbreaks. Livestock chief officer Ahmed Shidiye said the coordinated program for both refugee and host communities strengthens disease surveillance. The intervention helps pastoralists protect their herds and recover from previous drought seasons to ensure better market prices and increased production of milk and meat.