11 Nov 2015

Veterinary officers across the country have been urged to ensure compliance with the 2014-2016 Disease surveillance plan.

The director of department of Veterinary Services Dr Letlhogile Modisa said it is worrisome as the plan had been distributed to all stations and there is non-compliance by officers adding that at times they claim to be busy.

He pleaded with officers during an ongoing annual conference which brought together practitioners to share information and experiences.

He emphasized the need to comply with the surveillance plan adding that is their core work centre of activity as a department hence they should take it to another level and do the right thing.

Dr Madisa observed that they had realized some shortcomings regarding to compliance plan and also called for an improvement of feedback from veterinary laboratories.

He said the department is faced with a challenge of emerging diseases which include PPR with evidence of exposure in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Angola, Zambia and Malawi while other neighbouring countries had been declared free from diseases.

He noted that in SADC region is currently engulfed by disease outbreak such as Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) especially in countries like Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Namibia.

Dr Modisa said since veterinary fences are vandalized, stock moved across the border illegally, with high possibility of introducing FMD and urged officers to come up with measure to control the situation.

 He said it was difficult to prevent FMD under these circumstances, but added that government does its best to prevent the disease. The director also pointed out in Ngmailand, FMD is a concern as the district is in the 9th year adding that the disease had impacted negatively on the farmers and the businesses and trade partners.

He said lack of cooperation with some farmers still remains a challenge and frustrates government efforts to win FMD battle. Meanwhile, Dr Modisa informed the gathering that European Union (EU) has shown interest to come and appreciate the situation. 

He also revealed that  government has started collaboration agreements with Zimbabwe regarding vaccination along common border. He said Zimbabwe OIE delegate has notified Botswana of the FMD outbreaks in some areas along common border adding that border biosecurity has been intensified in face of FMD risk from Zimbabwe. 

Regarding the establishment of protection zones, Dr Modisa said Botswana now has four independent FMD free zones adding that currently there is need to consider a uniform protection zone. 

He said  would now facilitate trade in the event of FMD outbreaks in one free zone. It was also revealed that cordon fence maintenance still presents a challenge due to breeches by elephants and that regular maintenance coupled with use of Chilli pepper has resulted in improvement of state of some fences. 

All affected districts were urged to comply with submission of weekly fence maintenance reports and also conduct regular supervisions and records be kept. Dr Modisa said most of the fences are neglected citing one at Malatswai in the Central region which he said the fence is dilapidated with holes all over and yet there is no challenge of elephants.

Relevant officers were advised to come up with ways to minimize damage of the fences adding that “innovative ways to develop wildlife friendly fences are most welcome”. Ends