Madhes government launches vaccination against lumpy skin

By Laxmi Chaudhary,Janakpurdham, Aug,1:The Madhes Province government has taken a significant step by officially initiating a vaccination campaign against lumpy skin disease throughout the province. 

Organising a programme at Sitaram Gaushala in Janakurpurdham, the provincial capital, the government formally launched the vaccination campaign.

Minister for Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperatives of the province, Govinda Bahadur Neupane, announced that the vaccination drive against lumpy skin disease is now launched in all eight districts of the province. 

However, he said that the initial phase's vaccine procurement by the provincial government was insufficient. 

As a solution, he urged the local governments to allocate funds from their budgets to purchase additional vaccines.

Minister Neupane noted, "Since the vaccine is still needed on a large scale in the province, the federal government should also be requested for this. The initiatives are being taken for it."

The province has acquired a total of 64,000 vaccines through the disaster management fund in the first phase, with each district receiving 8,000 doses, the Minister said. 

In addition to the provincial government's efforts, Minister Neupane informed that the federal government had pledged to provide further vaccine support.

According to Dr. Ranjit Kumar Adhikari, Information Officer and Veterinary of the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives, the vaccine is being administered solely to healthy livestock without any symptoms of lumpy skin disease. 

The focus is on preventing the disease in unaffected animals, while ongoing efforts are made to treat those currently suffering from it using alternative methods.

Dr. Adhikari highlighted that a total of 109,825 doses of the vaccine would be required in the province, including the 64,000 vaccines purchased by the provincial government and an additional 45,825 purchased by the local level. 

The disease has been detected in all eight districts of the province, he added. 

The situation has been critical, with 65,712 cows and 2,704 buffaloes in the province affected by the disease. 

Tragically, 2,025 livestock have already lost their lives due to the disease, comprising 2,019 cows and bulls, and six buffaloes, according to the report of the Ministry.