OREANDA-NEWS. October 10, 2012. Kompanion Financial Group responded to the mass mortality of livestock in Suzak district that broke out.  The Company provided immediate assistance with disinfectants to affected local farmers and to Suzak district administration of the State Veterinary Service.  Experts believe that the outbreak incident had been triggered by applications of low-quality smallpox vaccines, reported the press-centre of IBS.
 
“It is believed that a veterinary pharmacist, Tashpolotov T., purchased 3,000 smallpox vaccines from Ziyaiddin, a citizen of another country, - said Elemanov Abdirashid, veterinarian of Kompanion in the Jalal-Abad branch. - He sold the vaccines to individual livestock holders for application, which led to the mass mortality of small cattle. Out of 2,808 animals that had been vaccinated, 1,347 died from the vaccination and were buried.  But 197 infected small cattle were slaughtered and their meat was given away.”

When informed of the incident, Kompanion’s veterinarians immediately disseminated information on the dangers of this infection and provided information on preventive measures. They advised local communities to refrain from consuming the meat of those infected animals, particularly mutton, unless it was allowed by official authorities.  “It is necessary to isolate animals suspected of infection without delay and to inform local veterinarians immediately, - Elemanov Abdirashid, a veterinarian at Kompanion, recommended. - One should never try to medically treat animals without expert consultation or use vaccines from unknown sources or production.”

As a response to the incident, Kompanion assisted Suzak district by providing farmers-clients of the Company and local veterinarian services with funds to purchase disinfectants.

Animal husbandry is an important part of Kyrgyzstan’s agriculture. It provides over half of the country’s livestock production and plays a large role in the overall agricultural economy. Animal husbandry also helps to ensure food security in rural households and rational management of natural resources, including grazeable lands. 

Kompanion’s Development Department has a team of 50 professionals, including agronomists, veterinarians and community development officers, who are present in all of the Company’s 16 branches throughout the country. About 64% of the Company’s clients engage in animal husbandry and farming. Experienced specialists hold regular free trainings with clients on techniques and practices aimed at raising cattle productivity. Agronomists and farm experts at Kompanion also provide free consultations on livestock practices and land management at Company offices.

Kompanion is a community development financial institution established by Mercy Corps Kyrgyzstan in 2004. Kompanion's mission is to be the leading community development financial institution in Kyrgyzstan.

Registered with the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic, Kompanion is represented in all oblasts and districts of Kyrgyzstan providing services to more than 124,314  customers (August 2012) and is the largest financial institution in Kyrgyzstan as measured by the number of customers. Kompanion supports the strengthening and growth of communities by offering development products and services to entrepreneurs and individuals.

Mercy Corps is a leading international nongovernmental economic development and aid organization. Kompanion represents the culmination of Mercy Corps’ extensive work in micro lending and its desire to leave an enduring and sustainable community development financial institution as its legacy to the people of Kyrgyzstan.