NARRATIVE REPORT ON THE MALI CENTRAL VETERINARY LABORATORY PROJECT

THE OBJECTIVES OF THE CVL ARE (A) TO PRODUCE VACCINES FOR PROTECTING MALIAN CATTLE AGAINST MAJOR DISEASES AND (B) TO UNDERTAKE APPLIED RESEARCH AND TESTING PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE VACCINE QUALITY AND TO SUPPORT USAID'S MALI LIVESTOCK PROGRAM. PRODUCING VACCINES IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR THE CURRENT VACCINATION CAMPAIGN BECAUSE SO MUCH OF THE NATIONAL HERD HAS BEEN WEAKENED BY THE DROUGHT AND IS PARTICULARY SU SCEPTIBLE TO DISEASE AND PARASITES. SINCE BEGINNING OPERATIONS IN 6/72, THE CVL HAS BEEN PLAGUED BY ONE BREAKDOWN AFTER ANOTHER. AT TIMES, AS WHEN THE WATER PUMPS FAILED, THE LABORATORY HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FUNCTION AT ALL. CONSEQUENTLY, MALI HAS HAD TO CONTINUE IMPORTING SOME OF ITS VACCINE REQUIREMENTS FROM ABROAD. AT PRESENT, THE LABORATORY IS STILL IN A PRECARIOUS POSITION AS IT FACES THE 1973/74 VACCINATION CAMPAIGN. DELAYS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF A WELL AND WATER TOWER FOR STAND-BY WATER SUPPLY CAUSE THE CVL TO BE DEPENDENT ON MUNICIPAL WATER AND VULNERABLE TO CUT-OFFS DURING DRY MONTHS. THE SAME APPLIES TO CVL'S SOURCE OF ELECTRICITY SINCE THE CVL STAND-BY GENERATOR IS IN DISREPAIR. OTHER PROBLEMS WHICH COULD INTERFERE WITH MEETING DEMANDS FOR VACCINES ARE THE ABSENCE OF ADEQUATE COLD STORAGE FOR STOCKPILING AND TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES IN THE PRODUCTION OF RINDERPEST VACCINE. USAID HAS CONTRACTED AN ENGINEERING FIRM TO CORRECT MOST OF THEMAJOR DEFECTS IN DESIGN AND INSTALLATION. THE AUTHOR RECOMMENDS THAT USAID INCREASE ITS INPUTS TO ENABLE THE CVL TO ADDRESS SOME OF ITS LONGER-TERM PROBLEMS, PARTICULARLY TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE FOR LABORATORY OPERATIONS AND RESEARCH, FOLLOW-ON COMMODITIES, TRAINING, AND FUNDS FOR LOCAL OPERATING COSTS. SUCH ASSISTANCE COULD TRANSFORM THE CVL FROM AN EMBARASSMENT FOR BOTH COUNTRIES TO A TRULY FUNCTIONAL INSTITUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE MALI LIVESTOCK SECTOR.