The following story is provided by Mary Young at the KYEEMA Foundation. Two decades ago, ACIAR and AusAID funded research into developing and using thermotolerant vaccines to protect poultry against Newcastle disease (ND). The ND (I-2) vaccine has been rolled out in many countries around the world. This work has delivered exceptionally high socio-economic returns and outcomes on the ground. This is one story in a small collection of impacts on smallholder farmers in Singida, Tanzania.
Paulina Lundery
Paulina is a Community Vaccinator living in Singida, Tanzania. The residents of her village selected her as a Community Vaccinator in 2009 because she is well-known and respected. Paulina participated in a three day training course for Community Vaccinators in late 2009, and began vaccinating during the first campaign in January 2010. In her sub-village there are 84 households, of which 54 have chickens. The day before vaccination she goes house to house requesting people to keep their chickens in for vaccination and she starts vaccinating at 5am the next day. During the last campaign Paulina vaccinated 798 chickens.
Paulina Lundery with her vaccination basket. (Photo Credit: S Ingleton 360° Films)
She enjoys her work as a CV. The people in her village are enthusiastic about vaccinating their chickens and this gives her encouragement to continue. Paulina says that there has been a big change since vaccination started - ND has disappeared and chicken numbers have increased.
Paulina owns 20 chickens and vaccinates them. The proceeds from the sale of her birds are used to support her two children at school. She has exchanged some of her chickens for goats and then the goats for cattle. She now has three cattle and will sell one of these to provide money to help her construct a better house.