Rift Valley Fever vaccine too dear- Bamalete

MARANYANE NGWANAAMOTHO
Staff Writer | Friday July 30, 2010 00:00

Chief's representative, Kgosi Ambrose Mokgosi says Assistant Minister of Agriculture, Oreeditse Molebatsi had told them in a recent Kgotla meeting that they would have to buy the vaccine for their livestock, which costs P400. 

However, the package can be used to vaccinate a total of 100 sheep and goats, and 50 head of cattle.  Mokgosi says that Bamalete raised concerns that Rift Valley Fever is deadly and all should be done to stop the disease. 

'We asked the government to vaccinate the livestock for free because this disease can kill us if we fail to vaccinate due to lack of money,' he said. 

He told Mmegi yesterday that most farmers rely on selling their livestock for their cash requirements but it would now be difficult to raise capital since they cannot sell any livestock in their district.  'Farmers could afford the vaccine if they could sell a cow or goat to raise that money to buy the vaccine for the remaining livestock. But that's impossible because we cannot sell livestock, and no one would want to buy an animal that is likely to be infected,' he said. 

Mokgosi says Bamalete feel that the government should treat the situation like an emergency and provide the vaccine free of charge to curb the disease. 'We were not prepared for the breakout of this disease and we don't have money readily available to buy the vaccine; farmers in this area need help more than anyone else,' he said. 

Bamalete also pointed out that there are other diseases for which vaccinations are provided for free though they are not as dangerous as Rift Valley Fever.  'We are saying if the government can provide vaccines for diseases like Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) for free, what about a deadly disease like RVF?' he said. 

However, Mokgosi says to make it affordable, they have been encouraged to buy the vaccine in clusters.  

Meanwhile, veterinary services director, Kgosietsile Motsu told Mmegi that Cabinet is aware that farmers do not have money, but cannot do much since the vaccine is expensive. 'We are all aware of the situation but farmers also have to play their part in the costs of controlling the disease,' he said.  Again, he said there is not much he can do as the director if the cabinet does not decide otherwise about the policy. 

However, he advised farmers to contact veterinary services after purchasing the vaccine to appoint for the vaccination of livestock. 

Meanwhile, no infected livestock have been recorded since the first two, which were recorded in June.  'But we have taken so many samples of animals which aborted to the National Veterinary Laboratory in Sebele where all tests came out negative,' said Motsu.  However, the disease is still ongoing in South Africa where it first broke, he added.