Togo: a five-year plan to combat the plague of small ruminant animals
- Posted on 27/11/2025 11:09
- Film
- By abelozih@sante-education.tg
Extract from the article: Togo is stepping up its fight against diseases affecting small ruminant farms. On 17 November in Lomé, public authorities and stakeholders adopted a five-year strategic plan for the fight against climate change covering the period 2025-2030.
Togo
is stepping up its fight against diseases affecting small ruminant farms. On 17
November in Lomé, public authorities and stakeholders adopted a five-year
strategic plan for the fight against climate change covering the period
2025-2030.
This
reference document lays down the main guidelines for surveillance, prevention
and response against this highly contagious disease, which particularly affects
sheep and goat herds.
Specifically,
the system provides for strengthening the operational capacities of veterinary
services, the regular organization of herd vaccination campaigns, as well as
the establishment of an early warning system to quickly detect outbreaks of
infection. The director of veterinary services, Dr Damitoti Yempabou, recalled
that this disease causes high losses and requires continuous prevention to
protect farmers. Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) is a highly contagious and
often fatal viral disease affecting sheep and goats. Symptoms include fever,
runny nose and eyes, mouth lesions, diarrhea, and pneumonia. The disease has a
major economic impact in regions where it is endemic.
In
recent years, Togo has been stepping up its efforts to boost the livestock sector,
reduce dependence on meat imports and consolidate food security. The results
are encouraging: in 2024, the country already had 2.24 million sheep and 6.36
million goats, a herd that is continuously growing.
Jean ELI (Togo Officiel)
