The Vice President (VP) of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo has apportioned yearly N29B being lost in livestock economy to trans boundary animals diseases. Prof. Osinbajo stated this in a press statement signed by Mr. Ezeaja Ikemefuna of information department, FMARD, and made available to journalists today.
Prof. Osinbajo in the statement pointed out that trans boundary animals diseases have been negatively impacting on the economic vibrancy of livestock sector in Nigeria with loses of over twenty nine billion naira annually.
The VP ably represented according to the press release by the minister of health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire said that government in this regards is launching a national strategic document for the easy eradication of both zoonotic and animals diseases limiting economic potential of the livestock sub sector.
Osinbajo in the statement observed that there is need for a roadmap that would properly guilde veterinarians, clinicians, animal health service providers and other stakeholders to be able to control and eradicate TAD saying that the FG through Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in collaboration with relevant partners in other MDAs were at the forefront of coordinating the fight against these diseases afflicting animals.
In his words “Intensive surveillance, epidemiology and response are being conducted in the hotspot areas, to keep the rising profile of the diseases in check. We work also in collaboration with State Veterinary Services, particularly in frontline international borders. In addition, mass vaccinations against economically devastating diseases are carried out annually for millions of cattle, sheep, goats dogs, etc’’
Osinbajo noted further that ‘’the contents of the strategies are self-explanatory and straightforward for easy understanding, especially by respective experts. It is thus our desire to see to the smooth implementation and operation of the strategies, to ensure realization of the objectives they are meant to serve’’
The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar stated in the release that ‘’ the ministry through the Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Service in collaboration with relevant stakeholders developed and validated National Strategic plans for the control and eradication of major Transboundary Animal Diseases such as Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), African Trypanosomosis & Tick-Borne Diseases and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in cattle; Peste Des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in sheep and goats, African Swine Fever (ASF) in pigs and Newcastle disease (NCD) in chickens, among others’’.
The Agric minister revealed that the FG was targeting the establishment of Primary Animal Health Centers in all 774 Local Government Area to tackle TAD's challenges holistically across the country.
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