| dc.description.abstract | Tsetse fly infestation is one of the most important constraints to rural
development in sub-Saharan Africa. By transmitting animal trypanosomosis, the
tsetse fly drastically reduces the numbers of livestock available. At the same
time, trypanosomosis kills animals used for draught power, thus reducing the
capacity of farmers to open up and work the land. Tsetse transmitted sleeping
sickness, affects a considerable number of people in Africa, thereby reducing the
availability of labour as well as increasing the cost of health services. Over the
last 100 years a lot of effort has been put on initiatives aimed at controlling the
tsetse fly. There has, however, been limited impact in terms of reducing the
problem. Some of the areas where the tsetse fly populations were considerably
reduced have become re-infested over time. As a result, gains made are often
lost sooner or later.
African Heads of State and Government, having been under pressure from their
communities to do something about the tsetse fly, and realizing that individual
country solutions would not work, came to the conclusion that the tsetse problem
had to be tackled on a continent-wide basis. The OAU Summit held in Lomb,
Togo, in July 2000, charged the Secretary General of the OAU with the task of
initiating a campaign to eradicate this menace from the continent of Africa, once
and for all. The Secretary General, in turn, commissioned a Task Force,
comprising experts from African countries, to formulate comprehensive strategies
and a Plan of Action for the implementation of the Decision by the Heads of
State and Government. Members of the Task Force were: J.P. Kabayo (OAU),
Solomon Haile-Mariam (OAU), Daudi Waithaka (OAU), J. Mathu Ndungu
(Kenya), Sadou Maiga (Mali), Charles Mahama (Ghana), William Shereni
(Zimbabwe), Bado Abou (Burkina Faso), I. Sidibe (Burkina Faso), Rob Bagnall
(South Africa), Assefa Mebrate (Ethiopia), A. Msangi (Tanzania), T.K. PhillemonMotsu (Botswana), Francis Oloo (Kenya), Nkurangah Charles (Rwanda), L.M.
Ogwal (Uganda), Codjia Victorin (Benin) and H.G.B. Chizyuka (Representative of
PACI Peariinrial frir Afrin,n1 Thr. Tool. Cr-sr..r. ;4,
Prior to the convening of the workshop, extensive consultations with international
experts from different parts of the world were held. The ideas and proposals that
were contributed by the experts formed part of the resource materials used at the
workshop. | |
