Studies on Animal Health Delivery Systems in Pastoral Areas in Manyara, Tanzania

Abstract

A study to identify animal health delivery systems to show how marginalized pastoral communities are accessing animal health services was conducted in Babati, Hanang and Mbulu Districts of Manyara Region. It was shown that livestock was the principal economic activity for pastoralists in Mbulu, Babati and Hanang and that pastoralists are located in relatively remote areas. Animal diseases, in particular parasitic infections,  viral/bacterial epizootics and scarcity of water and pasture are among the major constraints that these pastoralists face. Despite of such problems, reliable animal health delivery system lacks in these areas and handling of almost all animal husbandry services, treatment and control of diseases is exclusively carried out by farmers that are quite skilful home grown animal para-veterians. Efforts to improve animal health and productivity and thus economy and livelihood of these pastoral farmers will succeed through their involvement in solving the problems. It was observed that there is a high illiteracy rate among the pastoralists; hence education for all is essential for success of any developmental project to be implemented in the pastoral areas. In summary the information available in the present study validates the need for planning of an effective and sustainable animal health delivery system in the pastoral farming systems in Manyara region and Tanzania as a whole.