GALVmed meets… Mepukori Mebolokini Mollel
“ECF vaccine is very good and important for the family. I have appreciated the vaccine. Before we used the vaccine, we used to treat with antibiotics but the cows still got infected. But the vaccine is for life.”
Since beginning to vaccinate his herd last year he has 315 calves, a positive indication that the vaccinations are effective. East Coast fever has a high mortality rate with cows and the disease is rife in many parts of Tanzania.
Today, with the use of ECF vaccinations, Maasai are able to earn a good income through selling their cows – and can pay for school fees, universities, cars and houses.
Mollel plans to build a house in a nearby town. “In past years, milk and meat was very important but nowadays with new technology, we sell the cows for school fees and to build houses. My children are going to school because we can sell cows.”
Monji, Mollel’s last wife comments, “When I have a lot of cattle I feel secure, I don’t have a bank account as the cattle are a bank. After ECF, the worst problems are drought, they lack water and die of starvation.”
His son, Jeremiah Mepukori Mebolokini is now at college,“When I leave college, I want to deal with wildlife management. But I would still like to keep some livestock, I would go for high quality and low quantity.’ And he wants to travel the world, ”we want to go to Europe to meet you there like you meet us here.”