EKITI GOVT. TRAINS HEALTH EXPERTS ON EFFECTIVE DISEASE SURVEILLANCE
As part of measures to prevent outbreak of livestock diseases in Ekiti State, the Livestock Productivity & Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) has held a training programme for animal health experts on effective disease surveillance. .
Speaking at the 2-day training programme tagged ” Training of Veterinary Officers,Para- Veterinarian, Community Animal Health Workers and Livestock Officers on effective diseases Surveillance” organized by the L-PRES State Coordination Office in Ado-Ekiti , the State Commissioner for Agriculture & Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, said that part of the mandate of the L-PRES Project is to support measures that would help prevent animal epidemic or pandemic diseases in the livestock sector.
The Commissioner who spoke through the Permanent secretary of his Ministry ,Engr. Olugbenga Odesanmi said that Project will also continue to support measures that would help prevent animal epidemic or pandemic diseases in the livestock sector in the State.
Boluwade stressed that livestock farming is expected to create employment, financial incentives and provide protein for human consumption charging Veterinary officers and animal health workers to be productive and work towards prevention of a various of animals diseases that may occur in the livestock sector in the state.
He said the early detection of livestock diseases is key to an early warning system to prevent what could become public health emergencies.
The Commissioner for Agriculture & Food Security, Mr. Ebenezer Boluwade, who was represented by the Permanent secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Engr. Olugbenga Odesanmi said that L-PRES Project will support measures that would help to prevent animal epidemic
Boluwade stressed that livestock farming would create employment, financial incentives and provide proteins for human consumption, and charged Veterinary officers and animal health workers to be productive and work towards prevention of various animals diseases that may occur in the livestock sector in the state.
Earlier, The State Project Coordinator L-PRES, Mr. Olayinka Adedipe who was represented by the Animal Husbandry Officer, Mr. Muyiwa Adelodun explained that the training of health experts on effective diseases Surveillance is under the Component 1 and Sub – Components 1:3 ; Animal Health Services Strengthening Support Infrastructure, Clinical and Laboratory diagnostics, for disease Control and eradication and Veterinary Medicines quality Control.
Adedipe stressed further that Veterinary Clinics will built in the three Senatorial Districts of the State with the abattoir in Ado-Ekiti fully upgraded and equipped with state-of-the-art facilities while a ultra modern cattle market would be established in Omuo Ekiti
He called on Veterinary and other livestock Officers to utilize knowledge acquired through the training to prevent the spread of transboundary Animal diseases into the State.
In their goodwill messages,The Director Veterinary Services in the Ministry, Dr. Emmanuel Osayomi, urged participants to be more proactive and vigilant in animal health sector to prevent spread of animal borne diseases to human .
The Chairman,Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association Ekiti State chapter, Dr.Victor Ojo commended Ekiti State Government for employing Veterinary officers and trained personnel in the Livestock sector for an early warning system by the timely detection, reporting and communication of diseases, infection or infestation.
The Facilitator from Department of Animal and Epidemiology, University of Ibadan, Dr. Emmanuel Awosanya and Dr. Adebayo Akano spoke extensively on the importance of effective diseases Surveillance.
Dr. Emmanuel Awosanya stated that public health surveillance is the continuous, systematic how, analysis and interpretation of health related data for action.
Dr. Adebayo Akano emphasized using Information Communication Technology (ICT) to monitor disease surveillance by introducing Epidermic Curves and interpretation and Geographic Information System (GIS) in reporting the early detected cases.
One of the participants, Dr. Catherine Durojaye who spoke on behalf of others ,appreciated the state government for organizing the training for health experts in livestock sector. She noted that knowledge acquired through the training would be brought to bear in their duty posts
