BY SIFISO NHLABATSI
MBABANE – Eswatini’s progress in containing Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) is providing valuable lessons to Mozambique as the two countries strengthen cooperation in preventing the spread of transboundary animal diseases.
The development comes after an Eswatini technical delegation accompanied Mozambique’s veterinary authorities during a recent FMD vaccination campaign in Maputo Province, with the neighbouring countries agreeing to improve the exchange of epidemiological information and coordinate disease-prevention measures.
According to 360 Mozambique, Sihle Mdluli, a representative of Eswatini’s Veterinary Services, told Mozambican officials that the vaccination and disease-control strategies being implemented there were largely similar to those used in Eswatini. She also highlighted the tagging of vaccinated animals in Eswatini as part of sanitary surveillance and disease-control measures.
The engagement comes at a time when Eswatini has made significant progress in bringing its own FMD outbreak under control.
Agriculture Minister Mandla Tshawuka announced in July that the country had recorded zero active FMD cases, describing the development as a major milestone following months of intensive vaccination, surveillance and movement-control measures.
During a press briefing, Tshawuka revealed that 453 629 cattle had been fully vaccinated, representing about 85 per cent of the national vaccination target. He attributed the achievement to the combined efforts of Government, farmers and the public.
The Minister also urged livestock owners not to become complacent, stressing that continued compliance with biosecurity measures and restrictions on illegal livestock movement remained critical to preventing a resurgence of the disease.
Government has further committed E15 million towards rehabilitating the national cordon fence along Eswatini’s borders as part of efforts to strengthen protection against future incursions of animal diseases.
The country’s response has also seen the gradual relaxation of some livestock movement controls after veterinary authorities recorded significant improvement in containing FMD. In April, Government announced controlled movement of cloven-hoofed animals under strict conditions following the progress achieved through mass vaccination.
The latest cooperation with Mozambique therefore gives Eswatini an opportunity to share practical lessons from its response, particularly in vaccination, animal identification, surveillance and movement control.
Mozambique is currently prioritising vaccination in high-risk provinces, including Tete, Gaza, Maputo and Manica. Its authorities said approximately 400 000 vaccine doses were in stock, with more than one million additional doses expected through phased deliveries.
For Eswatini, the collaboration reinforces the importance of regional coordination, particularly because livestock diseases do not respect national borders.
#Eswatini #FootAndMouthDisease #FMD #LivestockHealth #VeterinaryServices #AnimalHealth #Agriculture #EswatiniAgriculture #Mozambique #RegionalCooperation #DiseaseControl #LivestockFarmers #Biosecurity
