The emergency funding has enabled the province to place an order with the state-owned designated FMD vaccine supplier, Onderstepoort Biological Products SOC Ltd (OBP).
The Eastern Cape Department of Agriculture MEC, Ms Nonceba Kontsiwe, has welcomed the intervention of the Eastern Cape Provincial Government following the commitment of R55 million towards the provincial response to curb the Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) outbreak. The emergency funding has enabled the province to place an order with the state-owned designated FMD vaccine supplier, Onderstepoort Biological Products SOC Ltd (OBP).
This funding guarantees compliance with OBP procurement requirements, enabling the company to source vaccines from international manufacturers, including Turkey (Dolvet Vaccine) and Biogénesis Bagó of Argentina, for a total supply of approximately 1,05 million doses. MEC Kontsiwe stated that the intervention is aimed at procuring vaccines, veterinary medicines and related supplies necessary to implement the vaccination rollout programme.
“We are encouraged by these interventions to help the sector recover from the setback caused by Foot and Mouth Disease. The outbreak poses a threat to livestock production, the dairy industry and ultimately food security. These measures will assist in curbing the spread of the disease, protecting livestock and safeguarding jobs in the sector,” said MEC Kontsiwe.
Further more the country has received 1 million doses from Argentine and out of the 1-million doses the province has been allocated 150 000 doses by the National Department of Agriculture and will vaccinate 150 000 animals. This consignment is an addition to the 2600 Agriculture Research Council (ARC ) doses that were received in the middle of February. The ARC vaccines covered the area of the communal farm at Kouga in order to protect the dairy farms and potential job losses. After careful consideration based on FMD risk assessment and optimisation of vaccine impact, the Department will prioritise the following areas: Priority Area 1: Border Municipalities Winnie Madikizela-Mandela, Matatiele and Ingquza Hill Local Municipalitie.
OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE –
Video of the handover of the inintiative in Matatiele.
Video Credit to Commumity media support services
