Moçsmedes: Three million doses of vaccines for animals are now available in Angola, setting the stage for a comprehensive cattle vaccination campaign scheduled to commence on May 15. This announcement was made by Capito Caponde, the general director of Veterinary Services, during a press briefing following the visit of the Secretary of State for Agriculture, Castro Paulino, to the municipalities of Bibala and Lucira in the Namibe province. According to Angola Press News Agency, the vaccines have already arrived in the country and will soon be distributed to various provinces. This distribution is essential to ensure that veterinary technicians can initiate the vaccination campaign on the planned start date. However, the exact number of animals expected to be vaccinated remains unspecified. The available vaccine doses are intended to combat a range of animal diseases, including contagious pneumonia, symptomatic and hematic anthrax, and nodular dermatitis. Caponde also highlighted the impact of recent weather conditions on livestock, noting that the lack of rain had previously led to the death of approximately two thousand animals. He stressed the importance of updating these figures through provincial veterinary services. The recent increase in rainfall is expected to alleviate some of these challenges by providing more water and pasture for livestock. Furthermore, collaborative efforts involving the ministry, provincial governments, and poultry cooperatives are underway to supply more hay, corn, and wheat bran to support animal health. The upcoming vaccination campaign will be bolstered by logistical support, including two vehicles allocated to the Veterinary Services to aid animal breeders and communities. During his visit, the Secretary of State also addressed agricultural needs by delivering corn, massango, and massambala seeds at the Taco Taco dam in Bibala. In Lucira, he donated 680 bales of hay and inspected the desilting work at the Chileva dam, which has begun to receive water.
