KARI ODA NARP II NVRC Coast Province

Abstract

Interviews with sixteen Government of Kenya (GoK) and private veterinarians working in Kilifi and Mombasa districts of Coast Province were undertaken to assess their level of interest in promoting East Coast fever (ECF) immunisation. Twelve veterinarians were undertaking farm animal clinical work, and were on average the veterinarians making 7 farm visits per week. Most of the veterinarians interviewed expressed a reasonably high level of interest in delivering the vaccine. However, they had a number of concerns about the technology. Private veterinarians were mainly concerned about efficacy, and the impact suspected cases of ECr in immuilised cattle might have on their reputation. GoK veterinarians felt that they could only deliver the vaccine if they were provided with transport and liquid nitrogen canisters. There are aspects of the technology, such as the number of doses per straw, dilution of the stabilate and the short halflife of diluted stabilate, that were considered minor constraints. There was a general consensus that the Department of Veterinary Services must be seen to be actively promoting the technology. It was generally agreed that the veterinarians would be more willing to deliver the tedmology if it was marketed and advertised by a commercial company. In Addition they felt recruitment of farmers would be considerably facilitated by the production of extension information. In particular information on acaricide usage following immunisation was requested.