Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, has flagged off vaccination and sensitisation on Anthrax in Lagos, with a donation of fifty thousand vaccine dosage to the state.
The exercise carried on in collaboration with Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, an agency of the United Nations is part of Ministry’s first assessment plan against the spread of Anthrax in the country.
The first outbreak of anthrax in Nigeria was reported on the seventeenth of last month , a few weeks after the federal government warned Nigerians against the consumption of hides popularly known as ponmo, as well as smoked and bush meat.
The sensitisation organised by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and UN’s, Food and Agriculture Organization kicked off at
Oko oba abatoir in Agege area of the metropolis.
Deputy Director, Vetenary and Pest Control in the Ministry, Dr Abdulkareem Durosilorun said although vaccination had started in Lagos, there was need to create awareness among stakeholders on the symptoms and response.
” They already know the clinical signs of the disease, we have asked for their cooperation, if they see anything that looks like the symptoms of the disease, and report any livestock sudden death, because some animals may not show any clinical sign of the ailment” he added.
Representative of FAO at the exercise, Mr. Otto Muhinda said the international community was aware of the danger the ailment poses to Nigerians, and was working to ensure safety of the citizens.
He said”the authorities, butcher are aware of the disease, and we doywant it to continue, the government must find a national strategyto stop the spread in the country”.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture in Lagos, Mrs. Olatokunbo Emokpae noted that the State had set up surveillance measures at the point of entry and at abbatoirs to detect ailing animals.
Recieving the team, Leader of the herders, , Seriki Bello Mybaffo who expressed happiness with government’s kind gesture and concern for the health of the people, aasured the delegates of cooperation of the herders.
He stated that “everybody should take care. If you want to go and buy cattle from various market in Nigeria or neighboring countries, you make sure you buy a healthy cow”.
The team comprising various departments in the Ministry will visit major abbatoirs in the state.