Ghana to kick-start five-year programme to control anthrax

The Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA) is to draw up a five- year programme to help curb the perennial outbreak of anthrax.

The Northern and Upper East Regions are noted as endemic areas.

The Sector Minister ,Clement Kofi  Humado  made this known, when he visited the Upper East Region to assess the trend of the recent outbreak of the disease.

He said the ministry would issue a white paper to cabinet for consideration to kick start the programme.

The programme will be concentrated   at the endemic areas before it spread to other areas.

Mr Humado said anthrax does not only lead to the death of animals but human beings as well when the infection is not tackled with urgency.

At round table held at Bolgatanga, Bongo and Bongo-Soe with MOFA directors, veterinary officers, and animal production personnel, it came to light that one of the factors that militate against the control of the disease was the lukewarm attitude of livestock farmers to avail their animals for vaccination.

The unwillingness of the farmers to pay between GH¢ 1.00 and 50 pesewa’s per an animal was identified as one of the major challenges.

Other challenges include inadequate veterinary officers and lack of logistics.

The sector Minister appealed to the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and Ghana Health Service to help MOFA deal with the problem.

He also entreated the MMDAs to enact by laws and strictly enforce them to ensure that livestock farmers allow their animals to be vaccinated.

Source: GNA