Haramaya University Launches Livestock Disease Forecasting Project in Kenya
Haramaya University officially inaugurated its newly secured international research initiative, the “Haemocus Risk Model Forecast in Kenya” project. Secured through a competitive selection process and funded by the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), the project aims to revolutionize livestock disease control and enhance animal health management through innovative, data-driven solutions.
The project is jointly led by Dr. Getachew Teshome and Sisay Alemu. The launch event in Nairobi, Kenya, brought together key international partners implementing the initiative: Haramaya University, the African Veterinary Technician Association (Kenya), the University of Botswana, and NADIS (UK).
This initiative is focused on combating the parasitic threat of Haemonchus contortus (the barber pole worm). A central component of the project is the development of a dynamic early warning system designed to forecast disease risks by utilizing temperature and moisture data.
According to the project leaders, the project establish a farmer-centered mobile platform that enables real-time parasite diagnosis and control. This platform will be supported by a network of 1,000 sentinel Veterinary Paraprofessionals (VPPs) trained across Kenya by 2026.
The initiative will also provide extensive training and educational materials to enhance local diagnostic and response capacity.
Speaking at the launch, project leaders emphasized that the program will play a crucial role in building climate resilience among pastoralists and livestock farmers. They stated the initiative will significantly improve productivity and safeguard livelihoods across East Africa through these innovative, science-based approaches.
Haramaya University Public & International Relations Directorate
Tags: Agriculture, Animal Health, Disease Forecasting, East Africa, Epidemic Prevention, Haramaya University, Kenya, Livestock, Research Project, Veterinary Science