Omwony Ojwok hails Oxfam

By James Odong STATE MINISTER for economic monitoring, Omwony Ojwok has commended the UK-based NGO Oxfam for supplementing the government efforts in improving animal health in Karamoja. The minister was on November 23, addressing over 60 pastoralists undergoing three weeks of community animal health training at New Paradise hotel in Kotido town. Ojwok said the government would fully support Oxfam and other NGOs in improving the lives of the Karimojong especially after the disarmament programme. The project manager, Pastoral Livelihoods ,Lucy Daxbacher, said the training was aimed at improving the health, quality and price of the Karimojong cows as a strategy in fighting poverty in the region. She said the trainees would in turn train the community on how to treat cattle diseases such as east coast fever, babesiosis, heart water, Trypanosomiasis, Anaplasmosis and Rinderpest which she said were rampant in Karamoja. Daxbacher said 62 kraals had already been covered under the training programme. She said those trained would in turn train others at the community level on sustainable animal health practices. “We use the kraals as a unit because it has a strong system of governance. When we teach about diseases, we link the ticks, which are their biggest enemies, to the traditional songs,” she said. She noted that the training was being carried out by a team of 10 veterinary doctors, veterinary assistants, paravets and social scientists. Solimo Sabila, presidential advisor on political affairs, commended Oxfam for spearheading the struggle to keep the animals and people of Karamoja healthy. “The health of the Karimojong and their animals is an important element in the fight against poverty,” he said. ends