Emergency relief for livestock-keeping communities during drought

It is well recognised that droughts in sub-Saharan Africa have increased in frequency and severity in recent years. In response to this, VETAID is working to improve drought-preparedness and response activities in the areas where we work.

VETAID’s response to the drought in the east and the Horn of Africa in 2006 provided appropriate emergency aid to vulnerable livestock-keeping communities. The aim was to protect the livestock of pastoral and agro-pastoral communities as much as possible during the emergency situation to allow them to resume their livelihoods when the crisis eased.

VETAID’s work in the Machakos, Makueni and Kitui Districts of Kenya focused on providing basic animal health care to agro-pastoral communities; that is those who depend on both animals and arable farming for their livelihoods. The areas of focus were around the more drought-prone areas of these districts which agro-pastoralists struggle to farm in these difficult conditions.

The project benefited 10,344 agro-pastoralist households: a total of 109,285 animals were de-wormed and treated against common livestock diseases in the area. In addition, 360 women who formed community-based groups and are taking care of HIV/AIDS orphans were provided with drugs for their animals. These groups were restocked and 9,461 of the animals they already owned were also de-wormed and treated.

Project activities:

• A general overview of animal health-related problems and priorities were identified in order to address the communities’ real needs and an epidemiological assessment was carried out.
• A meeting was conducted in each of the three districts to sensitize all those involved in the project, to ensure that everyone involved at every stage and level of the project understood how it would work and to seek final approval for the project.
• Mass treatment teams were sent out to each of the three districts to conduct pre-treatment planning. Refresher training was also provided for the teams including 360 CAHWs.
• An emergency livestock kitty was established in the three districts. The cost recovery money during the mass treatment exercise was used to start up an emergency livestock kitty in the three districts.