The Jigawa state government in collaboration with a UK Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) under Propcom+ has disbursed motorcycle and animal healthcare kits to 300 newly recruited mobile community animal health workers in the state.
Speaking at the graduation ceremony and distribution of motorcycle and animal healthcare kits to the trainees, the state Governor Malam Umar Namadi said, the program was aimed at promoting animal health and animal production in the state.
He said Jigawa state is one of the leading states in Nigeria in terms of livestock production but a gap in access to animal healthcare services has been negatively affecting the development of the sector over the years.
“In an effort to address the challenges, and provide an enabling environment for livestock production development we collaborated with our partners in recruiting, training and equipping 300 community animal health workers to provide veterinary clinic services across the state.
“I am optimistic that, the program will enhance livestock production, food security jobs creation, poverty eradication and also prevent animal disease outbreaks, therefore we will do everything possible to make it work effectively and sustainable for better results,” Governor Namadi declared
In his speech, the technical adviser to the Jigawa state governor on agriculture, Dr Saifullahi Umar said the trained mobile community animal health Workers will provide veterinary services across the 287 political wards in the state.
In her speech at the occasion, the country representative of Propcom+ projects Dr Adya Ode commended the effort of the Jigawa state government in promoting animal healthcare services in line with global best practices and described the effort as very encouraging.
According to her, access to veterinary clinic services will prevent animal disease outbreaks as well as human disease outbreaks, enhancing the production of nutritious food and wealth creation for growth and development.
“Animal health plays a critical role in ensuring food security, economic stability, and public health,” Adya stated.
However, the representative of the National Veterinary Council, Dr Helen described the Jigawa state effort in enhancing veterinary services in the state as the first of its kind in Nigeria and called on other states to emulate.
Helen assured the Jigawa state government that, the National Veterinary Council will continue to support the state to bridge the gap in the area of veterinary services through manpower training and technical advice.
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