The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to establish the Federal Ministry of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Health to ensure speedy control of Zoonotic diseases that are transmitted from animals to humans.
The Chairman, NVMA, FCT Chapter, Dr. Ifeanyi Ogbu, made the call in Abuja while making a presentation on `Strategic Engagement of Private Sector Practitioners in the Application and Enforcement of the Animal Diseases Control Act’ during a workshop on the Animal Diseases Control Act.
The work shop was organized by the Division of Veterinary Epidemiology, Department of Veterinary Services, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), to deliberate on likely challenges against the implementation of the Act.
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Ogbu noted that the act contained the role of the veterinary profession in the prevention, treatment, and control of animal diseases for the overall public’s health, as well as empowered private veterinarian practitioners in the areas of importation, exportation, surveillance, notification, animal identification, and animal farm registration.
He went on to note that the creation of the ministry will be a huge benefit for the country and West Africa, as it will generate more revenue for the government and create job opportunities for a number of veterinary doctors graduating from numerous universities across the country.
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On his own, the Head, Veterinary Epidemiology Department of Veterinary Services, Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, Dr. Idris Ademoh, disclosed that the aim of the workshop was to remind the professionals about the existence of the law and aspects that were amended.
He called for synergy between veterinarians from the private and public sectors, noting that those in the public service set the standard and that they need a lot of feedback from professionals in the private sector for the system to work well.
