BAU Correspondent:

On 1st May 2019, Network for the Veterinarians of Bangladesh and International youth Society jointly organized and successfully completed a free mass Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) vaccination campaign and awareness program to protect small ruminants at South Char Kalibari, Mymensigh Sadar, Bangladesh.

Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), also known as goat plague, is highly contagious and infects small ruminants such as goat and sheep, causing up to 90% mortality. The disease is prevalent across large parts of Africa, the Middle East, India and China and is estimated to cost between US $1.4 billion and US $ 2.1 billion globally each year. In 2017, the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) introduce a global eradication program to reduce devasting impact PPR has on the economy and food security of affected countries.

In the vaccination campaign and awareness program, Dr. K.H.M. Nazmul Hussain Nazir, General secretary, Network for the Veterinarians of Bangladesh and Prof. Department of Microbiology and Hygiene, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University and Mr. Pravin Mishra, Campus ambassador, International youth Society, Bangladesh Agricultural University and final year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) student of Faculty of Veterinary Science, Bangladesh Agricultural University were present. Along with them 20 more DVM students from different level also joined the campaign, where they provide vaccination to over 250 goats. They also run an awareness program where they provide farmers with expert guidance on importance of vaccination and deworming, said Md. Muket Mahmud.

 

 

This vaccination campaign and awareness program is continued from last 2 years (in every 6-month interval) which results in more or less 0% mortality in the vaccinated locality due to PPR, where, when they start the mortality was 40-45%, said Ajran Kabir and Fardous Akter Shatu.

On review from some DVM students (Ehsanul Haque, Alamgir, Nelema, Ashraful, Jumman, Vivek Yadav, Subekshya Seth, Ravi Yadav, Nurejunnati Zeba, Nijhum, Sabad) and community member they said, Such type of program should perform in the community and promoted by the respective authority and should continue in future too.