'Zimbabwe Equipped to Fight Poultry Diseases'
ZIMBABWE - Zimbabwe has amassed resources to fight poultry diseases ravaging some countries in Africa, the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS) principal director Dr Stuart Hargreaves said yesterday.Dr Hargreaves said the country, which early this year was concerned with the lack of resources for vaccination and conducting awareness campaigns against Newcastle and avian influenza, got a shot in the arm last week when the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) donated US$300 000 and 30 000 euro.
"Our major concern was getting the proper agents to test various types of avian influenza and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) considered our plight and sourced for us a significant amount of money, which we are convinced will ensure severe outbreaks are prevented," Dr Hargreaves said.
He said the US$300 000 would cater for the control and vaccination of the Newcastle disease prevalent in chickens and for the awareness campaigns.
"The 30 000 euro is an emergent funding we got specifically for the avian influenza testing agents."
Source: AllAfrica