By Dare Akogun
The Kwara State Government has announced plans to vaccinate over 330,000 cattle, sheep, and goats in the upcoming statewide Mass Anthrax Vaccination Campaign.
The Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas, disclosed this at a training workshop for veterinary personnel on vaccination procedures held in Ilorin.
The training was organized by the Kwara State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Funke Sokoya, the Commissioner highlighted the state government’s commitment to preventing anthrax and other zoonotic diseases.
She commended Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his support, particularly through the prompt payment of counterpart funds for the L-PRES initiative.
According to Mrs. Thomas, Kwara State has received over 330,000 doses of anthrax vaccines from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security through the L-PRES Project, aiming to eradicate anthrax in the country.
She urged vaccinators to prioritize safety and exercise caution during the campaign due to the hazardous nature of their work.
Dr. Abdullateef Olugbon, Director of Veterinary Services at the Ministry, emphasized the campaign’s significance in protecting public health and livestock.
He also called on vaccinators to properly dispose of materials used during the exercise to avoid environmental contamination.
State Project Coordinator, Mr. Olusoji Oyawoye, represented by the Animal Health Officer of the L-PRES Project, Dr. Bukola Richards, noted that the vaccination aligns with the project’s development objectives of improving livestock productivity and resilience.
The campaign will cover all 16 Local Government Areas of the state.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Dr. Timothy Gana, a private veterinary surgeon and former state chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), expressed gratitude to the organizers for the training, describing it as a timely refresher for vaccinators.
The Mass Anthrax Vaccination Campaign is expected to enhance animal health and protect the livelihoods of livestock farmers in the state.
