The Botswana Vaccine Institute (BVI) has dispatched a team of technical experts to Lesotho to help combat the country’s first-ever outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD).
BVI acting Chief Commercial Officer, Ms Keenese Katisenge-Tizhani, revealed in an interview on Tuesday that the mission involves collecting samples from affected areas for lab analysis to develop a fit-for-purpose vaccine to curb spread of the disease
The mission also include a two-day training programme for Lesotho veterinary teams, equipping them with the latest knowledge and tools to tackle the outbreak, Ms Katisenge-Tizhani said.
“Ensuring that local veterinary teams are equipped with up-to-date knowledge and tools is essential for a sustained response,” she said.
Ms Katisenge-Tizhani noted that during the engagement, BVI experts would not only share new insights but also learn from how local teams were managing specific outbreaks, thereby strengthening regional animal health security.
Addressing long-term solutions, she said investing in local capacity building and technical support would help ensure sustainable control of Foot and Mouth Disease.
“Investing in local capacity building is key to sustainable FMD control,” she added.
Katisenge-Tizhani expressed confidence in the collaborative approach, saying it will yield positive results and contribute to successful mission execution.
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