Set up Animal Health Ministry – Anambra vet doctors urge govt

By Ejike Agbata

 ANAMBRA State Chapter of the Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), has urged the state government to establish a ministry of animal health and production as it will go a long way in checkmating livestock health and quality of meat and poultry being consumed.

  Anambra State Chairman of the association, Ifeanyi Obiewulu made the call while delivering his address at the 2022 NVMA training workshop for livestock farmers with the theme: Modern Livestock Farming, Challenges and Solutions, held Wednesday in Awka.

  Dr. Obiewulu said “I appeal to the state government to establish ministry of animal health and production and also employ more veterinary doctors. As it stands, we only have one veterinary doctor in each local government in the state. This will help in meat inspection at abattoirs, slaughter slab and also as a way to prove our worth.”

  He went on to say that according to World Health Organisation (WHO), “zoonosis disease is on the rise, we’re battling monkey pox at the moment, and we once had bird flu among other diseases. We urge government to partner with us to fight these diseases.”

  He advised about 200 farmers at the event to always cease opportunities as this given that the workshop is free to update themselves else, they’ll be left behind saying very soon, they will begin to see effects of this workshop as it’ll lead to more yield.

  The chairman added that it was unsuitable for the association to organise the workshop for the past two years, as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak and security challenges nationwide.

  He bemoaned the presence of quacks in the profession saying some who dispense drugs do not know what the drug being dispensed is used for. This according to him has caused contamination in birds consume so the issue of quackery affects us as an association.

  Dr. Webster Okonkwo delivered a lecture on Heat Stress in Poultry: Prevention and Management while Dr. Chika Ikeogu and Mr. Lordson Akuekegbe delivered lectures on Profitable Fish Farming System and Profitable Pig Farming.

  Highlight of the event was question and answer session and presentation of certificates to deserving participants.