The North West Livestock Development Fund (NWLDF), known in French as CDENO, has launched its 2026 mass cattle vaccination campaign, aiming to immunize 160,000 cattle across the region, an increase from 148,000 animals vaccinated in 2025.
The campaign was officially discussed during a coordination meeting held on Friday, May 15, 2026, at the CDENO conference hall in Bamenda, bringing together veterinary officials, local administrators, and cattle rearers’ representatives, including Ardos.
Officials say the program is central to protecting livestock from recurring and sometimes deadly diseases affecting herds across the North West region.
Director of the North West Livestock Development Fund, Mbah Shupong Michael, said the exercise is a routine annual campaign that was launched earlier this year to meet improved planning objectives for the 2026 mass vaccination drive.
He explained that the target of 160,000 cattle represents an increase compared to last year and said the success of the program depends on close collaboration among all stakeholders involved in animal health protection, from ministry staff to local field agents and community leaders.
Mbah Shupong Michael noted that a key preparatory meeting was held on Thursday, May 14, 2026, with Ardos and other stakeholders to reinforce coordination. He stressed that cattle rearers must work closely with veterinary services to ensure that government objectives in animal health protection are achieved across all divisions of the North West region.
When asked about challenges faced in previous campaigns, he pointed to persistent difficulties in accessing some remote areas. He said the strategy this year is to strengthen collaboration with Ardos and community health workers so that all “nooks and crannies” of the region can be reached, ensuring that every animal is vaccinated.
The CDENO Director emphasized that even a single unvaccinated animal can potentially contaminate an entire herd, making full coverage essential. He further reminded cattle rearers that the exercise is free of charge and not a taxation exercise, urging full participation to protect livestock populations across the region.
On disease prevalence, he explained that common illnesses affecting cattle include anthrax and lumpy skin disease, among others. He said the vaccination program is designed to address these threats through four main vaccines, including Pastovax, Sypmthovax, Nodulovax, and Anthravax, which are used to control the major diseases in the field.
The campaign is expected to last for a maximum of three months, with an evaluation scheduled for August 28, 2026. According to him, this timeline is intended to ensure sufficient coverage across all parts of the region without leaving any area unattended.
Addressing concerns about non-compliance, the CDENO Director said cattle owners are fully aware of the importance of vaccination and warned that failure to vaccinate animals could have wider public health consequences. He said authorities may escalate cases of refusal to vaccinate to administrative levels, given the risk of disease spread across communities.
He highlighted progress made in recent years, noting a steady increase in vaccination coverage from 129,000 cattle in earlier years to 139,000 the year before last, 148,000 in 2024, and now a target of 160,000 in 2025. Mbah Shupong Michael said this reflects improving performance and growing acceptance of the program among cattle rearers.
The vaccination procedure involves identifying cattle numbers at the community level, working through chiefs of centers, and submitting figures to sub-divisional authorities. Vaccines are then released by CDENO according to verified livestock numbers, ensuring coordination between all administrative levels, from divisional delegations to field centers and Ardos.
He said CDENO is a government structure mandated with animal health protection in the North West region, with a focus on vaccinating all cattle populations to prevent disease outbreaks and safeguard livestock production.
On impact, he said the program has significantly reduced disease incidence in vaccinated areas, noting that farmers who initially resisted vaccination later became strong advocates after witnessing the consequences of outbreaks in unvaccinated herds.
He also stressed the importance of monitoring and timely reporting, noting that MINEPIA field representatives play a central role in collecting data and evaluating progress at all levels, from regional delegations to local centers.
Dr. Venasius Sama Dodoh, Divisional Delegate of MINEPIA for Menchum, in an interview, described the vaccination campaign as a vital exercise for both Cameroon and the wider Central African region. He said cattle from Cameroon supply neighbouse ring countries, including Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and others, making animal health protection an important economic and regional priority.
He added that Cameroon’s structured vaccination system makes it unique in the region, noting that such coordinated annual campaigns are not commonly seen in some neighbouring countries.
He recalled that sensitization activities in Menchum Division began as early as March 2026 to prepare cattle rearers for the exercise. Dr. Dodoh noted that despite progress, challenges remain due to insecurity and occasional reluctance from some cattle owners to present their animals for vaccination.
Dr. Venasius Sama Dodoh reported that Menchum Division vaccinated 21,680 cattle in 2024 and 24,526 in 2025, with a projection of 30,000 in 2026. He said achieving this target would depend on improved mobilization, particularly through influential cattle rearers and Ardos who can encourage wider participation.
However, he pointed to logistical constraints, including limited resources for transport, vaccines, and operational support for field teams. He also highlighted security concerns in parts of the region, noting incidents of staff being kidnapped in neighbouring areas while carrying out field duties.
Despite these challenges, he said the vaccination program continues to expand steadily and remains essential for protecting livestock, improving productivity, and reducing disease outbreaks in the North West region.
Comments
Post a Comment