By Oluwakayode Banjo
The Oyo State Government in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture over the weekend trained about 50 disease surveillance agents to enhance accurate reporting of animal diseases (like Anthrax) in the state.
Declaring the 3 days-training open in Ibadan, the Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye said the training, is aimed at improving disease surveillance and swift response.
He said the epidemiology training was organised by the Regional Disease Surveillance Enhancement, REDISSE Project in collaboration with Oyo State government.
Mr Olaleye added that the programme will help the prevention and control of animal diseases in the state and the nation at large.
The commissioner reiterated that though Oyo State has not recorded any case of anthrax disease so far, all hands must be on deck to prevent such occurrence.
He added that Oyo State Government has put all machineries in place to prevent its outbreak.
Barrister Olasunkanmi said, “Oyo State Government under the leadership of Engineer Seyi Makinde has put every measure in place in preventing the animal disease -Anthrax”.
Some of the efforts put in place, according to him are mass media sensitization, on the spot assessment to abattoirs and livestock markets in the state to educate stakeholders on the outbreak of anthrax in the country.
While expressing gratitude on behalf of Engineer Seyi Makinde to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the commissioner enjoined the participants to be attentive and focus on the assignment before them, bearing in mind that they are ambassadors for the state.
He stressed that knowledge acquired would go a long way in protecting animal and human lives from dangers of the epidemic.
Speaking on the importance of the training, the facilitator from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Ibukunoluwa Akinola, said the training of para-professional Veterinary and Animal Health workers in both government and private establishments in the state on how to report animal diseases is timely.
She noted that, “we have been reporting diseases but the training would help on how to improve the quality of reporting”.
Mrs. Akinola added that by this, international and local partners would know the status of the disease in each state and provide necessary vaccines to prevent its spread.
“This would help in the protection of animals as well as man”, according to her.
She equally hinted that most human diseases are zoonotic-which are spread from animals to human and if it is accurately reported, it would help enhance hygienic environment.
Dr. Akinola commended Oyo State government for its prompt action against the disease, through various sensitisation programs, for stakeholders, especially butchers.
She also affirmed that no anthrax case has been recorded in Oyo State.
Thanking the organizers of the training, Mr. John Fabunmi and Mrs. Aina Akinola who spoke on behalf of the participants said the training was a refresher course coming at the right time.
They promised to be active in their responsibilities to ensure animal diseases were accurately reported to avert outbreak of diseases in the state and Nigeria at large.
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