31 May 2018

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Botswana through its Ngamiland Sustainable Land Management (SLM) project has donated medication to address challenges of measles affecting cattle and the communities around Lake Ngami.

The UNDP on May 29 handed the measles medication to the District Health Management Team (DHMT) representative to be distributed to all the villages surrounding the Lake Ngami.

Speaking at the event, the UNDP Ngamiland SLM project coordinator, Mr Innocent Magole said the donation of medicine was part of the five year SLM project which aimed to help communities around the Lake Ngami to benefit from their community and environment. 

The measles medication to be taken by people, is expected to break the cycle of measles. 

The disease is transmitted when cattle consume substances that have been in contact with faeces of a person who has worms that transmit the disease.

He observed that the project which started in 2014 focused mainly in three areas of Tsodilo Enclave, Haina Veldt and Lake Ngami with focus on rangeland, environment and community livelihoods.

Mr Magole said the SLM project also focused on improvement of farming especially livestock rearing. 

He therefore said animal diseases in the Lake Ngami area were worrisome since they negatively impacted the lives of the communities who relied mainly on cattle rearing.

He noted since the measles disease spread though humans, the Ngamiland SLM project partnered with the DHMT to provide medication to help curb the disease.

He said the medication should be taken by the affected community members especially and herd boys.

Dr Ramosamo Rancheke from Botswana Meat Commission (Maun) said measles created a loss for both BMC and farmers since farmers only received a compensation of P150 for cattle worth thousands of Pula while the BMC made losses.

Dr Rancheke observed that over 1 500 cattle were affected by measles in 2016 while 51 of those were condemned.

He also said over 176 cattle were affected by measles in 2017 while 23 were condemned. 

A health official, Ms Obonetse Gubago from Sehithwa Clinic who received the medication on behalf of DHMT stressed that human behavior was key in measles prevention.

Ms Gubago encouraged continuous use of toilets even in cattle posts, eating properly cooked meat and cleaning hands after using toilets to prevent measles. ENDS