The government of Kenya through the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development is hosting the 36th International Scientific Council for Trypanosomiasis Research and Control (ISCTRC) general conference at Hotel Pride Inn in Mombasa County.
Officially opening the 5-day conference on Tuesday 19/9/2023, the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua said that the conference is an opportunity to encourage one another in putting the resources together for eradicating and eliminating sleeping sickness and Livestock disease called Nagana. Gachagua also challenged African researchers to work on solutions to deal with Trypanosomiasis challenges in Africa.
Principal Secretary Hon. Jonathan Mweke gives his remarks at the Conference.
The PS state department for Livestock Development Jonathan Mueke who accompanied the DP and read CS Mithika Linturi’s speech, said that Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis continues to negatively impact on Agricultural productivity and threatening the livelihoods of communities in Africa, mostly in marginalized areas. PS said that tsetseflies is a transboundary problem, affecting agriculture, tourism and public health sectors and there is need therefore to establish focus and direction in the fight against tsetse and Trypanosomiasis at regional and continental levels. Mueke said that the last case of human Trypanosomoasis (HAT) commonly known as sleeping sickness, was reported in Kenya in 2009. This is as a result of great effort that has been put in the control of tsetseflies. The control of Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis will therefore play a great role in the (BETA) agenda by making it possible for communities to engage in profitable crop and livestock production. This will build the capacity of communities to engage in sustainable land management activities in areas infested by tsetseflies.
