Implementing poultry vaccination and biosecurity at the village level in Tanzania: a social strategy to promote health in free-range poultry populations
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Date
2009-08
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
ResearchGate
Abstract
A social strategy was tested for implement-
ing Newcastle disease (ND) vaccination and biosecur-
ity improvements among free-ranging chicken at
village level in Tanzania. In addition to training the
local poultry vaccinators, data recorders and poultry-
keepers, the strategy involved training and empowering
leaders at the district, ward and village level. The
trainings covered poultry health, management, and
marketing of village chickens, with an emphasis on
ND vaccination and improving biosecurity against
avian influenza (AI), The study sites included villages
in one ward in each of three each three districts (Iringa,
Mtwara-Mikindani, and Mvomero) of mainland Tan-
zania. Ninety-six local leaders at district level and 101
leaders at ward levels were trained. In addition, 196farmers (households) were trained, as well as 86
vaccinators and 26 data recorders. Data recorders were
also trained as poultry first aid workers. ND vaccina-
tion was conducted by the vaccinators, supervised by
their local leaders with technical assistance from
veterinarians. A total of 158,343 village chickens were
vaccinated in three rounds of vaccination three months
apart. The training and empowerment of local leaders
and local implementers was the key element for
success as it fostered the feeling of local ownership
of the program and prevented conflicts with other
development activities within the villages. We con-
clude that most animal health programs will increase
their odds of success by involving local leaders and
by addressing the current challenges facing the
Description
Keywords
Biosecurity, Community animal health, Newcastle disease, Poultry vaccination, Village chicken