Bovine tb ethiopia ejhd special 2008

144 Ethiop.J.Health Dev.
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Working Group C – Community Issues and policy: how to link research to policy more effectively in the context
of health.
Discussion Leaders: Eshetu Lemma, Dagninet Yimenu
Rappoteur: Caroline Aylott
Working group C contained representatives from social science, biomedical science, medicine, veterinary medicine
and from the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
It is important to note, however, that the working group did not contain representatives from the farming community or
members of the general public. The group was therefore unable to represent the community as a whole.
• Does bovine TB have a preferential impact on particular social groups?
The group considered people that have direct contact with cattle are affected:
Farmers – intensive & extensive.
Pastoralists and communities that live with their animals (who have a lot to lose through morbidity and
loss of productivity).
Farm workers.
Abattoir workers.
Livestock traders and people associated with the sale of meat and dairy products.
Women and children – who are associated with milking and transporting of milk.
Immunosuppressed people were seen to more at risk as well as sick people.
• Do farmers recognize bovine TB as a disease?
Here we had to distinguish the difference between recognition of disease and bovine TB.
Farmers recognize signs and symptoms of disease, such as swelling of the neck, however, this is not associated
with symptoms of bovine TB as this disease is not known.
The fact the disease is chronic is thought to contribute to this.
There is no awareness of how bovine TB is transmitted.
It was noted that TB patients are generally discriminated against.
• Does bovine TB have a name in particular languages?
Bovine TB as a disease is generally not recognized, see above.
• Are different farming practices associated with differences in the risk of cattle to human transmission?
The following are thought to be associated with risk:
- Intensive and semi-intensive versus extensive.
- Traditional farming where people live with their animals.
- Farming exotic breeds.
• Does the extra milk yield from exotic cattle outweigh any risks associated with enhanced susceptibility to
bovine TB?
This question caused some discussion and was thought to be an extremely complex issue.
Even though farmers are not aware of TB per se, they are aware that exotic breeds yield more milk and make a
better workforce. They are also aware, however, that exotic breeds require more feed, need greater care and
medication. This indigenous knowledge is passed on and farmers make calculated risks.
As a group we were unable to decide if extra milk yield outweighs any risks associated with enhanced
susceptibility to bovine TB. We were also unable to speak from a farmer’s point of view.
• Would vaccination be viewed as a socially acceptable intervention for bovine TB?
Yes
Farmers love their cattle and would want them to be protected.
Cost is a huge issue though and complicates this issue. An example was provided of rift valley fever vaccine,
which used to be provided free of charge. With the introduction of partial cost recovery uptake has decreased.
There is also an issue with farmers failing to recognise bovine TB and the fact it is a chronic illness. In many
cases, farmers have to take their cattle many miles to be vaccinated and they are less inclined to do this if their
animals are not thought to be diseased.
Ethiop.J.Health Dev 2008;22(Special Issue).