SPEAKERS
Dr Kevin Tiessen, IDRC, Ottawa, Canada
Prof Lorne Babiuk, University of Alberta, Canada
Dr Dieter Schillinger, Animal Health Consultancy, Munich, Germany
Dr Misheck Mulumba, ARC
Dr David Wallace, ARC
Dr Arshad Mather, ARC
Dr Sarah Chiumbu, HSRC
Dr Mpho Maja, Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Prof Tshepo Matjila, University of Pretoria
Dr Langelihle Simela , African Farmers Association of South Africa
Dr Jane Wachira, Kenya Veterinary Vaccines Production Institute
PRESENTATIONS
Date: Tuesday, 1 September
Time: 09:00 – 13:30
Venue: HSRC offices (VCRs), Pretoria, Cape Town, Durban.
Livestock is critical to the farming systems and livelihoods of millions of people in sub-Saharan Africa. However, African livestock are affected by several diseases including lumpy skin disease (LSD), Rift Valley fever (RVF) and African swine fever (ASF). According to Dr Lorne Babiuk of the University of Alberta and a specialist in immunology and vaccinology there have been around “30 new and emerging diseases [globally] in the last 30 years”, many of which are zoonotic, and all of which have implications for the economic wellbeing of livestock-keeping households.
Preventative primary animal healthcare (PAHC), including the use of vaccines to combat diseases, is crucial to prevent the death of livestock. South African, Canadian and Kenyan scientists have teamed up to develop combination vaccines to combat some of the significant diseases. The effectiveness of vaccines, however, requires deliberation on a number of issues including their acceptance and trust by farmers and livestock keepers, the role and capacity of the State in vaccination programmes, the social acceptability of new generation vaccines, and the relationship/s between vaccine manufacturers and the communities they seek to reach.
This Policy Dialogue will bring together various stakeholders, including government officials, scientists, farming community representatives, and public and private vaccine manufacturers, to examine these and other important issues relevant to vaccine development and distribution in South Africa, Kenya, and further afield.
The seminar may be attended in Pretoria, Cape Town or Durban
RSVP by 24 August
Cape Town: Carmen August (021) 466 7827, caugust@hsrc.ac.za 12th Floor, Plein Park Building, Plein Street, Cape Town
Durban: Ridhwaan Khan (031) 242 5400, rkhan@hsrc.ac.za 1st Floor, 750 Francois Road, Ntuthuko Junction, Pods 5 and 6, Cato Manor
Pretoria: Arlene Grossberg (012) 302 2811, acgrossberg@hsrc.ac.za 1st Floor, HSRC Building, 134 Pretorius Street, Pretoria