Poultry in Africa, particularly in Ethiopia has been identified by the government, development partners and commercial stakeholders as having potential to deliver high growth, employment, social inclusiveness and nutritional benefits. However significant barriers are present along the value chain that must be addressed to capitalize on this potential. And that is where KYEEMA’s Program Manager in Ethiopia Bethelehem Zewde comes in!

With collaborative support from the African Union Pan African Veterinary Vaccine Centre (AU-PANVAC) and funding from the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), KYEEMA has been working with AU-PANVAC in Ethiopia to establish improved mechanisms for sustainable Newcastle disease control in AU Member States. Bethelehem Zewde is our Ethiopian Program Manager and has been kindly hosted in the AU-PANVAC office in Debre Zeit since 2013.

Bethelehem manages the “Supporting food security and capacity building in AU member states through the sustainable control of Newcastle disease in village chickens” program. She continues to work towards ensuring improved village chicken production that provides food security and income to vulnerable households.

Bethelehem is currently busy preparing for a workshop we are co-hosting with AU-PANVAC in early November to train the first cadre of African Master Trainers in Newcastle disease vaccine production and quality assurance. Sustainable Newcastle disease control relies on the timely implementation of activities by well-trained and appropriately resourced personnel. The establishment of AU-endorsed Newcastle disease control Master Trainers will facilitate the increase in effective and efficient Newcastle disease control personnel operating in participating African countries.