Nuristan PRT provides Provincial Veterinary Ministry with vaccines

NURISTAN PROVINCE, AFGHANISTAN

12.18.2009

Story by 1st Lt. Natassia Cherne 

Combined Joint Task Force - 82 PAO

NURISTAN PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The Nuristan Provincial Reconstruction Team provided the Afghan Provincial Veterinary Ministry with thousands of vaccines for local livestock in the Nurguram district of eastern Afghanistan's Nuristan province, Dec. 14 and 15.

Ray Lehn, the U.S. Department of Agricultural representative for the Nuristan PRT, provided Abdula Qader, the Director of Veterinary Ministry for Nuristan, with veterinarian vaccines and supplies to distribute among the villages with the greatest need.

"There was some request for veterinarian support last spring when the people in Nuristan were having issues with their livestock contracting diseases like sheep pox," Lehn said. "So that was one of the reasons why we decided to keep the vaccines and have the Afghan Veterinary Ministry distribute them."

Qader is travelling throughout the Nurguram District this month to ensure all 45 villages have the opportunity to receive vaccines for their livestock.

So far, 44 families have been seen in the Nengarach, Malil and Wadow villages. If there are any vaccines left, Qader hopes to distribute them to families in the Do Ab district.

This is the first time the people of Nuristan have been able to receive vaccinations for the livestock, because the lack of road construction made travelling to their villages difficult.

"The vaccinations are a huge success and will be just as successful in the future," Qader said. "In the past nobody has helped with our veterinarian needs, so we are very grateful."

• Date Taken: 12.18.2009
• Date Posted: 12.18.2009 09:55
• Story ID: 42922
• Location: NURISTAN PROVINCE, AF