Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), in collaboration with the Kwara State Government, has trained public and private animal health workers on disease reporting using mobile applications.
Speaking at the training for animal health experts and other stakeholders held in Ilorin, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVON), Dr. Columba Teru Vakuru said that one of the core responsibilities of veterinary officers is to ensure accurate and prompt reporting of diseases in their domain.
Represented by Dr. Abubakar Musa, the chief veterinary officer of Nigeria, explained that the training is meant to enhance the capacity of the veterinarians on disease reporting through the use of software application.
According to him before now, disease is being reported manually using the various forms, as part of the efforts to advance animal disease in Nigeria, adding that the federal government with support from World Bank is deploying the newly introduced application for timely collection of animal disease data across the federation.
Dr. Vakuru noted that the training, will remind the verterinarians of their statutory responsibilities with regards to disease reporting as well as the usage of the software efficiently without hitches.
In his address the Kwara State Director of Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Salman Olugbon, said the training is timely considering the recent outbreak of anthrax disease in some neighbouring West African Countries.
He commended the State government for supporting the ongoing state-wide sensitization campaign on anthrax disease .
In her presentation, the Head of Epidemiology Unit, Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Idiat Aminu described disease reporting as an integral part of preventing and controlling methods, with a view to avoiding disastrous consequence of its spread on both socio-economic and public health, promoting food security and ensuring a sustainable livestock industry in the country.
Dr. Aminu maintained that it is imperative for all stakeholders in animal health to play their roles in identifying and reporting disease cases for prompt action by relevant government agencies.
COV/ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU
