Lyantonde veterinary authorities opt for public dialogues to curb counterfeit drugs

Lyantonde, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | The veterinary department of Lyantonde district has rolled out a series of public dialogues in response to the rampant use of counterfeit acaricides and other veterinary medicines in the area.

Dr Ronald Bameka, the District Veterinary Officer says the area is currently battling with dealers who are duping farmers with different varieties of counterfeit livestock medicines including acaricides that don’t provide the required remedy to ticks.

He observes that despite incurring heavy costs on acaricides, farmers continue to lose hundreds of cattle to ticks and related diseases. Records indicate that the district has lost at least 500 heads of cattle in a space of six months, and according to Dr Bameka, examinations show that the animals die of diseases related to ticks even when they are sprayed regularly.

Dr Bameka explains that because the affected farmers are usually targeted from their respective farms, the district has found it necessary to roll out a counteractive response by directly reaching out to the community in form of dialogues through which farmers will be sensitized about genuine livestock medicines, as well as disclosing the counterfeit dealers.

He adds that besides targeting to eliminate the unlicensed vendors of animal drugs, they are also counting on community engagements to discourage farmers from carrying presumptive treatment and self-prescription of medicines.

In addition to stamping out the unskilled personnel who are taking advantage of illiterate farmers, the dialogues will also help the district to tame livestock drug dealers who deliberately adulterate the products with the intention of making abnormal profits.

Lyantonde Deputy Resident District Commissioner Jeremiah Namanya says that they have also considered intensifying operations against habits that endanger livestock in the area. He says his office has already sought the National Drugs Authority to assign a team of quality compliance monitors to support the local security operatives in the clampdown.

Meanwhile, Gordon Ahimbisibwe, one of the ranchers in Lyantonde district has called upon security to also check on the errant farm attendants who deliberately kill animals with the intention to make quick sales from them. He explains that they have witnessed cases of livestock dealers who connive with farm attendants to deliberately stuck the animals’ veins by injecting them with hot water, hence inducing their death.

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