The Kwara State Government has announced plans to vaccinate over 330,000 cattle, sheep, and goats in a state-wide Mass Anthrax Vaccination Campaign.
The initiative aims to safeguard livestock and public health against the deadly anthrax disease and other zoonotic infections.
This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Oloruntoyosi Thomas, during a training workshop for veterinary personnel organised by the Kwara State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) in collaboration with the State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development in Ilorin.
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Funke Sokoya, the Commissioner highlighted the significance of the training in achieving the state government’s goal of eradicating anthrax.
She lauded Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq for his support, including the timely payment of counterpart funds for L-PRES and other agricultural projects.
Mrs Thomas also revealed that Kwara State had received over 330,000 doses of anthrax vaccines from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security through the L-PRES Project.
She urged vaccinators to prioritise safety and professionalism during the exercise, emphasizing the hazards associated with fieldwork.
Abdullateef Olugbon, the Director of Veterinary Services at the Ministry, underscored the importance of the campaign in mitigating the threats posed by anthrax to livestock and public health.
READ ALSO: Kwara govt warns students against loitering, unruly behaviour
He also called for proper disposal of materials used during the vaccination to prevent environmental contamination.
Mr Olusoji Oyawoye, the State Project Coordinator for L-PRES, noted that the exercise aligns with the project’s objective of improving livestock productivity and resilience.
Represented by Bukola Richards, the Animal Health Officer for L-PRES, he confirmed that the vaccination campaign would cover all 16 Local Government Areas of the state.
Participants at the workshop, including Timothy Gana, a private veterinary surgeon and former State Chairman of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), expressed gratitude for the training. Gana described it as a valuable refresher for vaccinators as they prepare to carry out the exercise in their localities.
The workshop featured presentations by Bukola Arinola Richards and Muftaudeen Oyewo from the Kwara State Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development.
