Health

Oyo Govt. Begins Anti-Rabies Vaccination Campaign

By Web News 430

By Oluwakayode Banjo

Oyo State Government has commenced an anti-rabies vaccination campaign to curb the menace of rabies in the state.

The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye made this known on Friday, saying the campaign is in collaboration with the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, Oyo State Branch.

The Commissioner added that it is also part of activities marking the 2023 World Rabies Day in Ibadan.

According to Barrister Olaleye, the vaccination programme demonstrated the Oyo State Government’s resolve to eradicate rabies by increasing the availability and accessibility of anti-rabies vaccines in the state.

Barrister Olasunkanmi added that, it is important humans are protected from diseases that are transmissible from animals, as about 70 percent of infectious diseases affecting humans are of animal origin. 

“We have also improved our surveillance and reporting systems, to monitor anthrax and every zoonotic diseases, to evaluate the impact of our collective interventions,” he said

He however hinted that Oyo State would be ready to partner with any association or group to ensure people of the state are healthy.

In his address, the Chairman, Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association Oyo state branch, Dr. Moses Arokoyo commended the Oyo State Government for being proactive in fighting against zoonotic diseases adding that free anti-rabies vaccination of dogs was part of efforts to celebrate this year’s Wold Rabies Day.

In another development, the Honourable Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Architect Abdulmojeed Mogbonjubola, has engaged owners of companies and industrial facilities in the State over the State Government’s stance on absolute cleanliness and Environmental Law compliance.

Mogbonjubola met various owners of Agro-Allied and chemical industries, Construction companies, Food and Beverages industries, Quarries and other industrial facilities in the State on Thursday.

He called for adequate collaboration in sustaining the environment through healthy ways of evacuation of both solid, liquid or recircled and emitted wastes.

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Agriculture

Anthrax: Oyo, FG, Train 50 Surveillance Agents 

By Web News 437

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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Education

Makinde Urges Healthy Competition Among Students

By Web News 692

Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has charged secondary school students to imbibe healthy competition in their academic endeavors in order to succeed in life and take active part in repositioning Oyo State and the country.

The governor who spoke through the Oyo State Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, while addressing secondary school students’ participants at the opening ceremony of the 2021 Inter-Senior Secondary School Debate Competition of the South-West zone, held at Ibadan Business School, Bodija, Ibadan.

Some of the student participants at the flag-off of the South-West Zonal Competition of the President’s Schools’ Debate Nigeria, at Ibadan

He stated that quality debate is the staple of democracy in the modern world, stressing that without quality debate, electorates would never be able to engage politicians with whom the collective destiny of the people are entrusted for a period of time.

The governor noted that as a responsible government, the paramount concern to his administration has been of turning around the dwindling educational sector which he inherited from the last administration.

He added that within two years, several measures and reforms have been put in place, part of which are free, accessible, and quality education for all, with free text and notebooks for students in public schools to promote sound education, which have placed Oyo State on good ranking in terms of performance and delivery.

“In addition to the annual State quiz, debate and Spelling Bee competitions, the government is also promoting the participation of Oyo students in national competitions with the intention of sponsoring deserving students for international competitions, to boost their talents, skills and as well, inculcate qualities of sportsmanship, teamwork and cooperation among the students who are the leaders of tomorrow.”

“Debating is one of the best tools available to a student for development of his or her oratory skills as well as the confidence to express themselves effectively, so it should be promoted by the government, private organizations and individuals, so that we can put our education quality where we desire.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the National Coordinator, President’s Schools’ Debate Nigeria, Elder Dare Oritu, opined that the importance of debate to the country and the world cannot be overemphasized, adding that debate has been widely used across the world as a tool for dialogue between conflicting interests.

He maintained that the significant role of debating in democratic nations includes the resolution of conflicts among diverse groups, which has made some levels of impact in Nigeria, despite her numerous challenges.

Governor Makinde however expressed hope that the competition would achieve the desired success, while admonishing the Judges to discharge their duties without fear or favor, urging them to encourage debaters to play according to the laid down rules and regulations.

Also in attendance at the occasion were the Permanent Secretary to the Ministry, Alhaja Aminat Atere and other top government officials at the Ministry.

Wasiu Olatubosun (P.hd),

Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism