The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Mpumalanga expresses serious concerns regarding a shortage of vaccines in the Mpumalanga veterinary service.
According to a recent report on the First Quarter Performance Report 2023/2024 presented to the Agriculture, Rural Development, Land, and Environmental Affairs (DARDLEA) portfolio committee, it revealed troubling insights into stock levels for essential medicines and vaccines within Mpumalanga’s veterinary services.
According to the report “zero quantities reflect that there is nothing in stock for this inventory item. This implies that the drugs, medicines, or vaccines are necessary for rendering clinical services, however, depleted and will be replenished when required. It should be noted that all drugs/vaccines have expiration dates, and the department ensures that vaccines are stocked to an acceptable level according to the needs.”
While the DA recognises the department’s stance on stock rotation to minimise wastage, the critical absence of vital veterinary vaccines, particularly amid a recent increase in canine distemper cases in Delmas, has raised urgent public health and animal welfare concerns. Canine distemper, a highly contagious viral disease affecting dogs, is preventable through timely vaccination, and its spread can have devastating impacts not only on animal populations, but also on communities reliant on healthy livestock and pets.
The DA calls for immediate action to address these shortages and prevent further outbreaks by ensuring the continuous availability of essential vaccines. This includes the establishment of a monitoring system that provides real-time inventory updates to avoid critical stock depletion. Furthermore, the DA urges the department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Land, and Environmental Affairs to provide a clear timeline for vaccine replenishment and a detailed plan to prevent similar shortages from recurring.
The DA will continue to advocate for a proactive approach to inventory management in DARDLEA and for transparency in the department’s measures to address this pressing issue. The health and safety of our animals, farmers, and residents depend on the availability of these essential vaccines.