Stakeholders’ perceptions on performance of the Livestock Disease Surveillance system in Uganda: A case of Pallisa and Kumi Districts
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Date
2019
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Pastoralism
Abstract
A reliable livestock disease surveillance system should detect changes in health events whenever they occur. Such a
system ought to be evaluated regularly to ensure it provides valuable information in an efficient manner. Thus, a
cross-sectional study was carried out in 2017 to assess eight attributes of the livestock disease surveillance systems
in Pallisa and Kumi districts, Uganda. A total of 772 livestock farmers were interviewed to evaluate the surveillance
system at their level, using a structured questionnaire. Guided interviews were also carried out with 13 key informants
who included all veterinary staff at the districts and sub-county administrative units, as well as two officials at the
Ministry of Agriculture Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF).
The stakeholders interviewed at the three different levels of the livestock diseases surveillance system perceived the
system as useful, with ability to detect epidemics and initiate their control if they occurred. The surveillance system was
perceived to be considerably representative, sensitive and acceptable, with the ability to generate data of good quality.
However, key emerging issues that need improvement were noted. These included poor laboratory diagnostic services,
inability to work within the means of available resources, slow data transmission and feedback, and nonspecific surveillance
forms leading to poor quality of data collected.
Poor communication along the surveillance system chain and inadequate staffing were noted as the major challenges
faced by the surveillance system in the two districts.
Although perceived to be functional, the livestock surveillance requires improvements for efficient disease detection and
control. For better performance, the surveillance systemcould be strengthened by establishing and equipping laboratories
for efficient confirmatory diagnosis of diseases; adjusting to work within the means of available resources; improving the
reporting process through quick data transmission and quick feedback and designing precise surveillance form to improve
quality of data collected.
Description
Keywords
Livestock diseases surveillance, Disease reporting, Farmers, Uganda
Citation
Namayanja, J., Dione, M., & Kungu, J. M. (2019). Stakeholders’ perceptions on performance of the Livestock Disease Surveillance system in Uganda: A case of Pallisa and Kumi Districts. Pastoralism, 9(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13570-019-0149-5