Mar-Apr

www.livestockeastafrica.com
ANIMAL HEALTH
ANIMAL H E A LT H
Currently about 70% of the diseases in
animals can be passed to humans
(zoonotic diseases). These include the
emerging pandemic threats such as
Avian influenza, Middle East Respiratory
Syndrome-Corona virus and Ebola that
pose serious danger to human life.
The
Livestock
Disease
Headache
One on One
with DVS, Dr.
Kisa Ngeiywa
Compiled by Tobias Belle,
bellehtobias@gmail.com,
Photos: Tobias Belle
D
r. Ngeiywa is the Director of Veterinary
Services and the World Organization for
Animal Health (OIE) delegate for Kenya;
but the astute livestock veteran humbly
waters down the seniority of his office and
asserts; “I am not directing, I’m just a team
player and a believer that every person
has something to offer. The principle of
inclusivity is the basis of my operations.”
With over 30 years of productive work
in the Agricultural sector, Dr. Kisa Juma
Ngeiywa was among the public servants
feted last year during the prestigious
Public Servant of the Year Awards, where
the Public Service Commission of Kenya
recognized him for his efforts in devolving
a progressive environment for farmers.
Livestock East Africa sought to find out
the progress Kenya is making in handling
livestock disease control, which is the
biggest challenge facing the sector in the
country.
You were awarded for your
efforts in streamlining the
livestock sub-sector in the
counties as entails animal
health. Kindly bring us up to
speed on this progress.
I have been in this office since October
2013, and my coming coincided with
the implementation of the devolution of
Dr. Ngeiywa is the Director of Veterinary
Services and the World Organization for
Animal Health (OIE) delegate for Kenya
some aspects of veterinary services to
the counties. So our mandate is to ensure
services are delivered without interruption
and management control measures are put
in place to ensure the system remained
seamless. This required coordination with
various officials at the county levels and a
change of structures in line with the new
constitution. Our key priority areas are
veterinary policy, animal health, animal
production, animal welfare, food safety,
veterinary regulatory control, and animal/
animal products certification for local
and international trade. The directorate of
Veterinary Services has done very well in all
these areas since I took charge of the office
of the Director of Veterinary Services. As
entails animal health we have formed joint
committee for delivery of veterinary services
between national and county governments.
This committee continuously addressees
bottle necks, tracks progress and deliberate
on strategies that can be put in place to
streamline the livestock sub-sector.
What are the efforts in place
to ensure human health is not
compromised as a result of
animal diseases?
Currently about 70% of the diseases in
animals can be passed to humans (zoonotic
diseases). These include the emerging
pandemic threats such as Avian influenza,
Middle East Respiratory Syndrome-
Corona virus and Ebola that pose serious
danger to human life. No clinical case of
these diseases has occurred in Kenya but
we are undertaking routine surveillance
with zero reporting. The Ministry of
Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries jointly
with Ministry of Health formed Zoonotic
Disease Unit (ZDU) which is guided by
Zoonotic Technical Working Group that
tackles various zoonotic diseases such as Rift
Valley Fever and brucellosis. Through ZDU
we have developed a joint national strategy
for control of Rift Valley Fever disease and a
strategic plan for the elimination of human
rabies in Kenya.
What steps are in place
to streamline delivery of
animal health services in the
counties?
In the spirit of the new constitution
which advocates for dialogue, collaboration
and consultation, the Directorate of
Veterinary Services has engaged with
county governments from the governors,
20 Livestock East Africa March - April 2016
Learn • Breed • Earn
Learn • Breed • Earn March - April 2016 Livestock East Africa 21