Conviviality under the trees. Door-to-door information campaigns preceded the two meetings in the shade of the mango trees. Community relays had already counted households and small ruminant breeders. Each goat or sheep owner listened with interest to the details provided by the MINEPIA team. It developed the following themes: media campaign, local awareness raising, pre- and post-vaccination sampling, actual vaccination, disease control situation via a guarantee of absence of virus circulation, surveys in favour of the recognition of Cameroon as a free country and, finally, the eradication of small ruminant plague.

Vaccination therefore does not end at the end of the agents’ passage. From the point of view of the Director of Veterinary Services, Dr Casimir Ndongo Kounou: “Each village might have 30 to 40 people. They form the small ruminant development committee. The breeder signs on the form and marks the current date. The 33 villages of the sub division will be visited in this way. They will form a borough committee.

The administrative authority is in charge of the vaccination teams in the presence of the village chiefs.” The awareness session became more intense and lively thanks to the question-and-answer phase. Each participant asked his questions without any self-censorship. The public asked about the consumption of meat from a newly vaccinated goat. According to Dr Feussom, Deputy Director of Animal Health: “Consuming meat of a vaccinated goat does not arise any human health problem. It can therefore be put into the pot without delay.” Populations say they have become accustomed to the haste and anticipation of consuming animals suspected to be ill.

Dr Gaelle Tinak dampened their hopes: “It is not advisable to eat a sick animal. Its flesh is neither healthy nor mature and always questionable. As a result, it has an impact on the person. It can develop drug resistance. A sick animal does not provide the body with the nutrients it needs. It is advisable to wait and go to the vet. Observation of waiting times is an essential measure.”

Par Télesphore Mba Bizo