Pare-Pare– To prevent high mortality in cattle, the Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock and Marine Services of Parepare city initiated a Brucellosis awareness public movement in Bacukiki subdistrict. Brucellosis is a reproductive disease in cattle. It is also known as Bang’s disease or Malta fever. Economic consequences of Brucellosis infection are serious despite its low mortality.

Brucellosis causes economic loss through abortion, stillbirth, and temporary or permanent reproduction problems in cows. In dairy cows, this disease could also cause a decrease in milk production.

Head of Parepare city Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock and Marine Services, Hj Damilah Husain on December 1 said the Brucellosis Awareness Public Movement is a movement with the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) approach. “PRA is a participatory approach for rural communities so its members can work together to analyze a livestock related problem and formulate plans and concrete policies,” said Husain.

According to Husain, the Brucellosis Awareness Public Movement was initiated by the local service office, Bacukiki subdistrict, and local farming community. “With this movement, farmers are given the opportunity to analyze any problems faced. Besides feed issues, there are still many cases of abortion and stillbirth, most likely associated with Brucellosis,” said Husain.

The community has expressed high enthusiasm at the start of this movement. They not only spectate, but involve themselves as players that learn together, share experience, remind each other and share responsibilities to solve the problem of Brucellosis. “Farmers were also given the understanding that solving community issues is not the sole responsibility of the government, but is the responsibility of the community itself. It doesn’t mean the community by itself, but people could actively participate in government programs,” said Husain.

The Brucellosis Awareness Public Movement was launched with the installation of several banners at several locations in Bacukiki subdistrict’s livestock production center, witnessed by Head of Parepare city Agriculture, Forestry, Livestock and Marine Services, Hj Damilah Husain, and Bacukiki subdistrict leader, HM Iskandar Nusu. The slogan in the banner says ‘Let’s Fight Brucellosis’. Also listed in the banner is the telephone number for the Livestock Call Center 0821 8768 8123 which provides access to the public to report issues on Brucellosis and other livestock problems.

Leader of Bacukiki subdistrict, Iskandar Nusu, hopes the Brucellosis Awareness Public Movement can be used optimally to prevent and control Brucellosis in cattle to reduce the mortality rate. “Initiation of the Brucellosis Awareness Public Movement is supported by the government’s program to eradicate Brucellosis from Parepare. Therefore, cross-sector coordination between the central, provincial and district/municipal government and social community organizations,” said Iskandar. He added that administrators and members of the movement in Bacukiki subdistrict are people considered to have high integrity in their neighborhood.

“There are 27 residents involved in this movement, led by Jaya Hartono from Watang Bacukiki administrative village,” said Nusu. (mon/sar/b)

Source: Pare Pos Online