WINDHOEK, Feb. 26 (Xinhua) -- Namibia on Thursday launched a national foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) Task Force and an accompanying FMD Support Fund to safeguard its 15 billion Namibian dollars (about 945 million U.S. dollars) livestock industry, which supports the livelihoods of about 70 percent of the population.
Speaking at the launch in Windhoek, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Land Reform Inge Zaamwani said the initiatives aim to strengthen the country's surveillance, early detection and rapid response to FMD, a highly contagious livestock disease increasingly reported in neighboring countries.
Zaamwani said the fund will support targeted vaccination campaigns in high-risk areas, reinforce veterinary cordon fences, enhance border biosecurity and improve quarantine infrastructure.
Meanwhile, the task force, composed of scientific, technical and operational experts, will coordinate prevention, containment and recovery measures.
It will work closely with veterinary services, farmers' unions, industry associations and international partners, including the Botswana Vaccine Institute, to ensure a unified response, she added.
Zaamwani said Namibia's proactive measures come amid rising risks of disease incursion linked to illegal animal movements and cross-border livestock trade.
She said the southern African country plans intensified patrols and inspections, particularly along the southern and eastern borders, to reduce the risk of FMD outbreaks.
"Protecting our FMD-free status, safeguarding livelihoods and securing the long-term competitiveness of our livestock sector depend on our shared commitment and coordinated action," Zaamwani said.
Namibia has maintained an FMD-free status without vaccination, a key credential for accessing high-value international markets. ■