Lumpy skin disease (LSD), an acute infectious viral skin infection affecting cattle, broke out in the states of Oromiya, Southern Nations, Nationalities &Peoples (SNNP) and Amhara. The disease spread rapidly because the National Veterinary Institute (NVI) couldn’t deliver a vaccine on time.
It permanently damages the skin of the cattle and rapidly decreases production. It also causes high fever and other significant damage to them. Globally it has a 10% mortality rate.
The virus, which is very closely related to sheep and goat pox, usually occurs during periods of high insect activity such as in the summer months, and more significantly in the wet areas.
Zewdnesh, a dairy producer, lives in Bishoftu town. She had nine cows, but lost one from the LSD infection which caused a secondary infection in the respiratory system. The cow could have earned her 50,000 birr and would provide her around 20 liters of milk per month.
“Except for one of my cows, which appears to have natural immunity, all of my cows are sick,” she told Capital. “The dairy production is very low and the cows are suffering, the problem is spreading around my neighborhood.”
The Ethiopian Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, which is mandated to supply the vaccine to the regions, said it couldn’t deliver the vaccine because the sole vaccine producer and supplier NVI failed to deliver on time.
“We ordered the vaccine a long time ago but they didn’t supply it to us. Considering the gravity of the outbreak in the Arsi zone we were obliged to take 350,000 doses of vaccines from our SNNP stock,” said Dr. Girma a coordinator for health regulation at the directorate. “We gave the NVI two weeks which is almost expired. If they don’t deliver on time we will take action.”
The nation’s sole veterinary vaccination production institute reported that it lost five million doses of LSD vaccinations this year. NVI says it lost one machine which is meant to hold the vaccine dormant because of a power problem.
“We lost 10 million doses of vaccines in total. We may lose additional vaccines if the generator fails,” Kenaw Birhanu, production and sales manager said.
The disease is known to minimize the dairy production by up to 50% and has a possible mortality rate of 10%. Also, it makes the skin of the cattle non-usable.
The Ministry also stated that the strain was receiving multiple of complaints which the EVI was supposed to consider early.
“We are conducting research to change the strain and the issue is also a major problem in fighting the virus on the continent. Unfortunately, we were not able to make the new strain ready for this year,” said Kenaw. “We are worried if we lose the bread bacteria recovering will be too hard.”
The EVI which is based in Bishoftu town said it reported the problem multiple items to various bodies but there was no solution.
Also as the disease is known for creating a secondary infection in open tissues it is recommended not to eat the meat of the cattle or use any products from them.
But, a couple of farmers which Capital talked to in Bishoftu town are selling the milk.
According to government statistics, there are approximately 50 million cattle, 50 million goats and sheep, plus an assortment of horses, donkeys, camels, and chickens.
Vaccine delay leads to increase in cattle disease
St. Paul Hospital starts cancer department
Increased smoking leads to more death in Ethiopia
St. Paul’s Hospital Millennium Medical College (SPHMMC) opened its oncology department last week. It will be the second hospital offering cancer treatment in the country.
Black Lion Hospital was the only hospital giving the service officially. The country is expecting seven Cancer treatment centers in places like Gondar, Mekelle, Hawassa and Harrar.
St. Paul is also building a nine-story building to become an Oncology excellence center for the country.
“We started the service to share Black Lion’s burden for chemotherapy,” said Dr. Abdu Adem the department director. “I will be the only cancer specialist for the department and we have 12 general practitioners, 14 nurses and other medical personnel which makes the service professional.”
Currently, in Ethiopia, there are 13 cancer specialists including Dr. Abdu which makes the battle against cancer a challenge. According to data obtained from the Ministry of Health’s survey, about 160,000 new cancer cases are reported every year.
In Ethiopia, breast cancer causes 33 percent of cancer deaths and cervical cancers cause 26 percent of deaths. Prostate cancer and lung cancer also cause many cancer deaths in men.
The 300 million birr project of the St. Paul’s cancer excellence center is expected to be finalized within three years. The complex will have five radiation machines and 250 beds. Upon completion, it is expected to receive all referral cases including those from Black Lion.
The center is going to provide all Oncology services except for Radiation Treatment.
“We are in a process of obtaining the radiation machine and until then Black Lion remains the only provider of such treatment,” said Dr. Abdu.
The hospital is planning to give trainings for nurses, technicians and radiologists in treating cancer, he said.
Currently the reported number of cancer deaths and patients is increasing. Among the causes are inappropriate life style, eating disorders and the increasing intake of alcohol and cigarettes.
According to Dr. Abdu the increasing number of smokers means more deaths from cancer.
More black market shops shut down, contraband confiscated
The Addis Ababa Trade Bureau in collaboration with the National Intelligence and Information Service Bureau and Trade Ministry has closed 74 shops in Addis Ababa in the last month for exchanging hard currency at their businesses. The majority; 64, of the shops are located in Kirkos sub city, four are in Bole and six are in Addis Ketema.
During the black market raid USD 80,615, Euro 13,750, and 8,877 Saudi Riel were confiscated from the shops. In addition 3,237 UAE Dirham, 1,130 Yuan, 83,000 Libyan Dinar, 423 Kuwaiti Dinar, 3 Oman Riel, 173 Bahrain Dinar and 2,870 South African Rand were also confiscated. There was also 12.4 million birr confiscated that was going to be used to exchange the hard currency.
Although the rate has been in flux one dollar currently goes for around 29 birr on the black market which is a 1.50 birr difference from the banks.
Experts who closely follow the sector say the black market reduction over the past week is a result of relative stability in the country and more hard currency entering Ethiopia since the new PM took office.
The hard currency shortage, the stagnation of export earnings and illegal market or contraband were some of the reasons for the recent rise in the black market rate which at one point reached around 38 for one USD.
In other news the trade bureau confiscated 8,870 liters of palm oil, one ISUZU truck fully loaded with clothes and textiles, 153 packs of clothes, 50 quintals of red pepper, 23 cartoons and 95 quintals of sugar and medicine that were being traded illegally.
Regions like Oromia are also working strongly to control the contraband business, stopping goods from entering the country illegally. This has led to some conflict in the Somali and Oromia regions over the past year.
Art and the International Decade for People of African Descent
Greetings from beautiful Accra Ghana where I am participating in an African Union (AU) United Nations (UN) hosted meeting on the implementation of the International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD) towards recognition, development and justice. The focus of the meeting is “strengthening national, regional and international action and cooperation in relation to the full enjoyment of economic, social, cultural, civil and political rights by people of African descent and their full and equal participation in all aspects of society; promoting a greater knowledge of and respect for the diverse heritage, culture and contribution of people of African descent to the development of societies.” While this may be a mouthful, it is an important undertaking that, in my estimation, requires culture – emphasis on the arts- for success.
I was therefore happy when the Diaspora African Forum’s (DAF) suggestion of an art installation and participation of artist Merid Tafesse in the meeting of approximately fifty representatives from AU, UN, African governments, civil society and private sector was accepted. With an objective to build awareness and understanding of the IDPAD, its rationale, mandate, and work program; five working groups were formed to tackle the development of a work plan in the areas of Institutional Cooperation; Role of Civil Society; Development; Role of Women and Gender; and Public Information. Sadly and strangely the work group on the role of women and gender was cut, suffice it to say, we’ll tackle that issue another time. So with four work groups now assembled, Merid was strategically placed to hear the varying opinions and perspectives of the working groups while watching the displays of passionate exchanges. Just as groups sat with paper and pen taking notes and creating the recommendations which will be presented to the AU as part of a plan of action, Merid too was articulating his perspective in a grand mosaic.
A collage of forty three A4 neon colored papers were carefully composed on the wall of the conference room by Merid before the morning meeting, ready to receive his charcoal and oil pastel, the medium of choice. As the four work groups set about accomplishing stated goals, so too did Merid set out to articulate his observations. After 90 minutes of deliberations resulting in recommendations, a 1.18m x 2.23m art work also emerged. The piece encapsulated what appeared to be both a historic and futuristic take on IDPAD. Charcoal images of shackles, a person’s bare and vulnerable back, and a haunting portrait of a young man with defiant and piercing eyes testified accurately to the conditions and emotions of a horrible past unleashed on Africa by European colonial powers. This was juxtaposed to images of children with headphones, whether for the purpose of listening or blocking sounds; while a woman with a child tied to her back and a toddler engage in the operation of a drone, looing to the skies. These dominant images, amongst others, do not disguise an atmosphere of chaos and occasional comfort, typically found in Merid’s provocative and unapologetic creations.
So what is the point and significance of art being inserted into such dialogue as the IDPAD? On one hand Artists, Activist and Academicians (the three A’s) spend their lives committed to various concerns. On the other hand institutional representatives, who may sincerely champion certain campaigns, are still employees limited by mandates, budgets and timelines. In consideration of this, it is more important than ever that Good Will Ambassadors from the world of the arts are part and parcel of any and all major campaigns for awareness and development. The old adage that a ‘picture says a thousand words’ is true and if IDPAD desires successful outcomes which are game changing and sustainable in the context of the recognition, development and justice for People of African Descent, they should fully incorporate artists in all such meetings.
Songs, poems and paintings have articulated, promoted and memorialized the challenges and contributions of People of African Descent globally. Dare I say, with or without institutional frameworks that shall continue. However, when the highest institution in Africa commits to such an important cause and speaker, H.E. Ambassador Kwesi Quartey, Deputy Chairperson of the AU states, “[African] history has stood the test of time…advanced tremendously through…institutions of higher learning, tourism and cultural exchanges…” all of society must be encouraged to join in this journey. Looking beyond self imposed mental boundaries and colonial constructs, recognizing that art is cross cutting and a powerful tool for the repair and reconstruction of an eventual world where, “…the color of a man’s skin is of no more significant than the color of his eyes…” according the H.I.M. Haile Selassie’s UN Speech, turned song by Bob Marley.
Dr. Desta Meghoo is a Jamaican born Creative Consultant, Curator and cultural promoter based in Ethiopia since 2005. She also serves as Liaison to the AU for the Ghana based, Diaspora African Forum.
