Kwara State Government has commenced the second phase of a statewide mass anthrax vaccination campaign across the 16 Local Government Areas of the State.
Speaking at the Flagging off campaign,at the Ministry’s Headquarters Ilorin, the State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Oloruntoyosi Thomas
said the campaign is necessary to avoid zoonotic disease.
According to her the state government has approved logistics supports to ensure a state-wide mass vaccination of susceptible animals such as; cattle, sheep and goats.
The Commissioner who was represented by the Director, Personnel, Finance and Supply at the Ministry, Mallam Yusuf Rafiu, explained that anthrax is a bacterial zoonotic disease of economic and public health concern, affecting both animals and human beings.
“Due to the risk associated with anthrax and its tendency to spread through trans-boundary movement of trade animals, mostly ruminants across state borders, it therefore becomes necessary for the State to activate its rapid response mechanisms and initiate proactive measures towards the mitigation of the occurrence and spread of the disease in the State.”she said.
Mrs Thomas commended the state government for the creation of the Ministry, and its continued efforts at ensuring sustainable livestock development .
In his remarks, the Director, Veterinary Services of the Ministry, Dr. Olugbon Saliman, said that the essence of the vaccination campaign is to mitigate the occurrence and spread of the disease in the State.
Dr. Olugbon maintained that the vaccination campaign was initiated with a view to protecting animal health and boosting livestock productivity in the value chain.
He appealed to animal owners and livestock farmers to embrace the opportunity and present their animals for vaccination.
ALI MUHAMMAD RABIU
