Jigawa, UK Train 300 Community Animal Health Workers

The Jigawa State government, in collaboration with Propcom+, a UK Foreign Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO)-funded project, and the National Veterinary Council, has recruited, trained, and equipped 300 mobile Community Animal Health Workers in the state.

At the event for the graduation and distribution of motorcycle and animal healthcare kits to the trainees, the state governor, Malam Umar Namadi, said the programme aimed to promote animal health and production.

He said Jigawa is one of the leading states in Nigeria in terms of livestock production, adding that a gap in access to animal healthcare services has negatively affected the sector’s development.

“To address the challenges and provide an enabling environment for livestock production development, we collaborated with our partners in recruiting, training and equipping 300 Community Animal Health Workers to provide veterinary clinic services across the state.”

“I am optimistic that the program will enhance livestock production, food security, job creation, and poverty eradication, as well as prevent animal disease outbreaks. Therefore, we will do everything possible to make it work effectively and sustainably for better results,” Governor Namadi declared.

In his speech, the technical adviser to the governor on agriculture, Dr Saifullahi Umar, said that the trained mobile community animal health workers will provide veterinary services across the 287 political wards in the state.

In her speech at the occasion, the country representative of Propcom+ projects, Dr Adya Ode, commended the Jigawa State government’s effort in promoting animal healthcare services in line with global best practices and described the effort as very encouraging.

According to her, access to veterinary clinic services will prevent animal and human disease outbreaks, enhance the production of nutritious food, and create wealth for growth and development.

“Animal Health plays a critical role in ensuring food security, economic stability, and public health,” Adya stated.

However, the national Veterinary Council representative, Dr Helen, described Jigawa’s efforts in enhancing veterinary services as the first of its kind in Nigeria and called on other states to emulate it.