Mozambique has launched its 2026 National Animal Vaccination Campaign, a major effort to protect livestock, support rural livelihoods and strengthen food security across the country.
The campaign, launched in Magude District, Maputo Province, aims to vaccinate millions of animals against priority diseases that threaten farmers, markets and communities. These include foot-and-mouth disease, anthrax, lumpy skin disease, Rift Valley fever, Newcastle disease and rabies.
For many rural families in Mozambique, livestock is more than an economic asset. Cattle, goats, poultry, dogs and other animals are part of daily life. They provide income, food, transport, savings and security. When animal diseases spread, families can lose animals, income and access to markets within days.
One of the main targets of the campaign is foot-and-mouth disease, a highly contagious disease that affects livestock and can disrupt trade and production. Around 2.4 million cattle are expected to be vaccinated against the disease. The campaign will also cover other important livestock and public health threats, including the vaccination of poultry against Newcastle disease and dogs and cats against rabies.
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) is supporting the Government of Mozambique, including through the provision of vaccine doses against foot-and-mouth disease for high-risk areas, particularly in Maputo and Gaza provinces.
This campaign comes at a critical time, as Mozambique continues to face animal disease outbreaks that affect livestock production and rural livelihoods. By investing in vaccination, the country is choosing prevention over emergency response.
Beyond protecting animals, the campaign is also about protecting people. Healthy animals mean safer food, stronger rural economies, better nutrition and more resilient communities.
The success of the campaign will depend on strong coordination between veterinary services, local authorities, livestock keepers and technical partners. It will also require good community awareness, proper vaccine delivery, cold chain management and follow-up in the field.
Mozambique’s 2026 vaccination campaign is a reminder that animal health is not only a veterinary issue. It is a foundation for food security, public health and sustainable rural development.
Photo: Ministério da Agricultura, Ambiente e Pescas
