Families living in South Sudan are struggling to survive

Every February the deadly disease anthrax starts to spread across South Sudan killing outwardly healthy cattle in a matter of hours.  It is distressing to witness the devastation this disease can cause to livestock and to the families who rely on them for survival.  Yet what was once an awful inevitability can now be prevented - if we can vaccinate the cattle in time.

Lotade (pictured right) is the Head of Adokoro Cattle Camp in Kapoeta South district of South Sudan.  In his area alone 270 cattle were lost to anthrax in the last outbreak.  This is devastating to families who are reliant on their livestock.  Cows are an essential source of milk, meat and money for Lotade's family - they couldn't survive without them.

You can help provide a solution

To prevent another outbreak taking place in 2012, we need to start vaccinating cattle in January.  And we need your help to ensure Community Animal Health Workers are trained and fully equipped with essentials such as syringes, antiseptic and even gumboots.  It is a matter of urgency.

Wider benefits

By supporting our appeal you're doing more than just keeping cattle safe.  You are also helping families grow more food to reduce their reliance on their livestock.  As well as teaching farmers like Nakuru about the best crops and cultivation methods, you are also helping to provide tools including ox-ploughs. 

Nakuru currently prepares her land for planting using hand held tools and sticks.  This is slow and backbreaking work.  She simply can't prepare enough land to grow enough food for her family.  All this will change when she learns to train her animals to pull a plough.  She will be able to plant more land and has high hopes for her family's future - but this all relies on having healthy cattle - and that is why we need your support today.  A network of Community Animal Health Workers will provide the basic veterinary care she so desperately needs.

Anthrax isn't the only problem our Community Animal Health Workers will help to tackle - click here to see more of our 2012 protection plan. 

Click the button to donate now - thank you for your support

Life at Adokoro Cattle Camp is tough

Below is a short video tour of Adokoro cattle camp.  Staff from FARM-Africa's London Office had the privilege of visiting Kapoeta earlier this year to find out what life is like for families, like Lotade's, living in rural South Sudan, and how you can help them overcome some of the struggles they face.

Nakuru has high hopes for her future 

Nakuru is an inspirational woman whose incredible spirit and enthusiasm touched the whole FARM-Africa team.  Below you can hear her telling us about just some of her plans for the future. 

Thank you for helping hopes to become a reality

Click the button to donate now - thank you for your support