Between 60-70% of Namibia’s population practice subsistence agropastoralism
on communal land that constitutes 41% of the total land area.
Cysticercosis bovis is found worldwide, but most often in rural developing
countries, where unhygienic conditions are coupled with poor cattle
management practices and lack or absence of meat inspection. Because
livestock is so important to the economy and social structure of the majority of
people in Namibia, risks from zoonotic diseases transmitted from domestic
animals to humans are a constant threat and are therefore of major concern.
In addition, C.bovis is also emerging as a public health risk not only in these
rural communities but also in urban areas where many infected cattle are
transported, informally slaughtered and consumed. This disease has a
negative impact on food safety, and thus is related to Veterinary Public Health
(VPH) strategies in Namibia. Over the period from 2000 to 2004, 3232 (8%)
measles detections were recorded from the 40 373 cattle slaughtered at
Meatco Oshakati Abattoir. C.bovis is considered important from both an
economic (loss of income to cattle owners) and human health (it is a
zoonosis) point of view.
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The aim of the study was to do an analysis of the level of C.bovis in bovine
carcasses at the abattoir, in order to identify geographical areas where the
disease is prevalent in cattle in North Central Namibia and to develop a risk
communication strategy, to improve the control of this disease in the target
population (subsistence cattle farmers in the study area).
Meat inspection was carried out for a period of 12 months and the abattoir
records examined covered two years (2004 –2005). Results showed that
incidence for C.bovis of cattle originating from Oshikoto Region were high:
(12%). Omusati and Oshana Regions had an incidence of 7% and a much
lower incidence of C.bovis (5%) was reported in cattle from the Ohangwena
Region.
Structured interviews with 95 farmers (99% male and 1% female) in all the
four Regions of the study area, were carried out using a set of questionnaires
(Appendix A). The questionnaires had provision for numerical data and
comments concerning changes, constraints and suggestions for improving
dissemination of information and extension services in the target areas.
It was noted that between 5% and 13 % of respondents had neither pit
latrines nor waterborne sewage. This leads to the conclusion that a significant
proportion of the rural population is defecating in an area which is available to
the cows grazing close to the homestead or cattle post. In addition, 61% of
cattle from this area are marketed through informal marketing and many of
them are slaughtered informally with no meat inspection taking place. This
provides a high risk of infestation for the consumer, which perpetuates the
parasite in the rural population. The educational level showed that 24% had
no formal education and 33% had only primary school education. The
language spoken by 93% of respondents is Oshiwambo and although only
20% speak English or Afrikaans, extension materials, including visual
material, is not available in the vernacular. Between 58% and 96% of the
respondents from the four Regions had no knowledge of the disease and how
it could be diagnosed and controlled in both people and cattle. In Oshikoto
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Region, where the incidence in slaughtered cattle was the highest, only 4% of
the respondents knew about C.bovis in cattle.
The results obtained for language proficiency advocates for extension
materials to be developed in Oshiwambo (which 93% of the target population
are able to read and write). Skills training using visual aids and personal
communication in Oshiwambo would be needed for other 7% who are
illiterate.