September 6, 2024

Cattle farmers in Sindh, Pakistan urge government to set up free veterinary camps

Cattle farmers in Sindh, Pakistan, are calling on the government to establish free veterinary camps for animals affected by heavy monsoon rains, The Express Tribune reported.

The farmers said that their livestock require immediate medical attention and vaccinations, but many rural farmers, struggling with poverty, cannot afford the high transportation costs to reach distant public veterinary facilities.

The recent monsoon rains have impacted all districts of Sindh, leading to the spread of diseases among livestock. Nabi Bux Sathio, senior vice president of the Sindh Chamber of Agriculture (SCA), has called for the government to establish free veterinary camps in every union council. He highlighted that the Sindh Livestock Department has the necessary funds to provide free medical treatment and vaccinations to both sick and healthy animals.

Sathio also urged the government to investigate the millions of rupees provided by international donors, including the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, during the catastrophic floods of 2010. These funds were intended to support livestock care, yet Sathio pointed out that the veterinary dispensaries promised in union councils across Sindh are still not operational.

The high cost of transportation has prevented many farmers from accessing government veterinary facilities. Sathio stressed the need for the government to ensure that these services are made available in villages to reduce the burden on rural farmers.

Meanwhile, Sindh Agriculture University (SAU) has been praised for its efforts in providing medical treatment to rain-affected animals by establishing free veterinary camps. Professor Dr Allah Bux Kachiwal, Chairman of the Sindh Veterinary Medical Board and SAU's Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, warned that once the rainwater recedes, there could be a rapid spread of contagious diseases in rural areas. He emphasised the need for pre-emptive measures to protect livestock, as hundreds of thousands of animals remain in vulnerable conditions.

Contagious diseases, including anthrax, foot-and-mouth disease, septicaemia, and black quarter, pose a significant threat to livestock, particularly during and after the monsoon season. These diseases can affect both small and large animals such as goats, sheep, cows, and buffaloes, making early intervention crucial to prevent further spread.

In response to the growing crisis, SAU, in collaboration with the Sindh Livestock Department, has set up a veterinary camp to treat rain-hit animals. SAU consultants are providing medical treatment and vaccinations to livestock within a 40 km radius of the university, with the Pakistan Livestock Department supplying free veterinary medicines and injections.

-      The Express Tribune