By: Dr. James Bol Bol Duer
Managing Director (MD) Konyweŋ Veterinary Service - KVS
Wau, South Sudan
Today the 27th of April 2024, the world is celebrating the world Veterinary Day under the theme “Veterinarians are essential health workers.”
The day aims to mark the importance of veterinary doctors who work on improving animal lives. It is observed globally through various activities such as seminars, workshops, educational sessions, and campaigns. It provides an opportunity to recognise and appreciate the veterinarians towards animal health, welfare, and the general well-being of society.
“Veterinarians’ competencies must be regarded as an essential and integral part of health at large,” according to this year’s award announcement. “The application of veterinary science contributes not only to animal health and well-being but also to human’s physical, mental and social wellbeing.” ( AVMA, 2024).
On this special day, I would like to acknowledge the great work that is being carried out by the veterinarians, community animals health workers (CAHWs) among other stakeholders involved in the livestock sector across the Republic of South Sudan for their unwavering commitment and dedication to their profession and job respectively.
In our context, I would like to talk specifically on one of the major challenge that is affecting our livestock's health and productivity in the region and the country as a whole.
The foreign bodies (polythene bags and torn clothes) are always eaten by our livestock (goat, sheep and cattle) which pose a dangerous life threat to our animals.
These polythene bags and clothes when they are eaten by the animal they are indigestible that mean they cannot be broken down by the ruminants' digestive system but they are compact and become more harder in the rumen or reticulum.
The animal that ate these foreign materials are not able to eat proper food after that. They can consume only one or two kilos of fodder per a day which is insufficient for them. The plastic in a cow's system affects the milk, they are not able to produce milk properly, and because of all the dirt in its system, it is not good milk.
These animals after sometimes may become emaciated weak and later die if they have not been treated.
They only treatment option for this case is the surgical removal of the foreign bodies (rumenotomy).
CALL TO ACTION:
The plastic bag affects the live and productivity of our livestock which are a source of livelihood to our society. They accumulation of plastic bags in the environment also has vast hazardous human health and environmental effects.
Therefore, the states and the national governments that are in charge of waste management systems should adopt measures that limit and direct the use and proper disposal of plastic bags in the markets places and homes.
The damaged clothes should also be disposed off properly to limit easy access by the animals in the environment.
Lastly, the concern ministries i.e. ministry of Animal resources and fisheries, Ministry of health and Ministry of environment should create awareness on the danger of the plastic bags to the animals, human and the environment.
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