Eradicating Pests of Small Ruminants: National Strategic Plan Validated

I n a collective effort to curb the spread of Small Ruminant Pests known by the French acronym PPR, animal health stakeholders under the supervision of the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries, and Animal Industries (MI­ NEPIA), have validated the National Strategic plan for the eradication of the plague. This was the highlight of a three-day workshop on Pan-African Programme for the Eradication of PPR and the Control of other Priority Small Ruminant Diseases (SRDs) in goats and sheep, that was held at Mbankomo from September 29 to 1st October, 2026. The global agenda initiated by the World Organization for Animal Health (WHOA) and the UN Food and Agricul­ tural organization (FAO) seeks to era­ dicate the plague by 2030. Edifying the participants at the opening cere­ mony, Technical Adviser at MINEPIA, Dr Mimbang Guy Irene on behalf of the Minister, Dr Taiga, recalled that, this initiative whose technical and fi­ nancial partners include the African Union, through its Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources, the European Union, professional organizations, and all the stakeholders in the small rumi­ nant value chain; goes far beyond the strict framework of animal health. It also contributes to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Reasons why the government has thus fully embraced this international dy­ namic by translating this initiative into policies, actions, and resources on the ground by aligning the scheme with the guidelines of the National Deve­ lopment Strategy 2020-2030; and the Integrated Agro-Pastoral and Fisheries Import-Substitution Plan. The PPR plague, having prevailed in Cameroon since 1976, with over 40 cases r...