Ogun State Government in conjunction with the Federal Government has started free vaccination of animals against the contagious transboundary animal diseases (TADs)
The vaccination is part of strategic moves by government to prevent the import of animal disease to man for better livelihood
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr. Adeola Odedina while
flagging- off the vaccination exercise
being co-ordinated by Regional Disease Surveillance System Enhancement (REDISSE), at Eweje farm settlement in Odeda, said transmission of zoonotic diseases could be fatal to the health of people, animal and the economy.
According to him, ‘’the Federal Government with the support of REDISSE donated 10,921 doses of Antirabies vaccines, 20,000 doses of Newcastle disease vaccines, 10,000 doses of Peste des Petit Ruminants (PPR) and 10,000 doses of Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia vaccines to the State
The vaccines being funded by World Bank are to be administered by veterinary doctors to animals across the 20 Local Government Areas.
The Commissioner appealed to farmers and all citizens alike to ensure their livestock and pets benefit from the free vaccination programme in order to prevent transmission of diseases from animal to man, noting that “this fulfils the promise of Governor Dapo Abiodun to support farmers, and making the free vaccines available to them as a support to farmers and by extension, our economy, nutrition, and wellbeing".
Also speaking, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVON), Dr. Columba Vakuru, said Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) were contagious epidemic diseases that have significant economic, trade and food security implications, and are transmitted rapidly among animals, causing serious economic damage.
Vakuru, represented by the State Coordinator, Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. (Mrs.) Toyin Ayo-Ajayi, stated that diseases such as Foot and Mouth Diseases (FMDs), Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia, Peste Petits Des Ruminants(PPR),
He described the diseases as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), African swine Disease and Rabies could stall market access and trade of animals among countries, hence the determination to be at the forefront of the campaign against these diseases for millions of cattle, goats, sheep and dogs annually.
Contributing, Director of the State Veterinary Services, Dr. Taiwo Jolaoso noted that TADs could move from boundary to boundary and has a high morbidity and mortality rate when it occurs, saying an outbreak of such diseases could lead to poverty, loss of animal protein as well as negatively impact exportation of the animals.
He added that government had always provided free vaccination for dogs against rabies yearly, and decided to extend the gesture to other farmers in the livestock sector, as it was discovered that TADs cause devastating hardship for the farmers, with an effort to eradicate the diseases by year 2030.
In his remarks, the Chairman, Odeda Local Government, Hon. Folashade Adeyemo applauded the collaboration of sponsors of the free vaccination being fagged- off in the council area, commending them for giving Odeda the opportunity to thrive in the agricultural sector, while the Olu of Odeda, Oba David Olorunishola enjoined the farmers and all concerned stakeholders to maximally key into this opportunity by ensuring all their animals are fully vaccinated
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