Federal Govt Harps On One Health Approach To Tackle Transboundary Animal Diseases 

The federal government yesterday said there was need to adopt One Health Approach involving collaboration and partnership among the three tiers of government and partners to ensure sharing of knowledge, new initiatives, identifying interventions, pooling resources together and implementing animal disease control programmes across the county as a national priority.

The One Health as developed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) involve balance and optimisation of the health of people, animals and the environment.

At the launch of the National Strategic Documents for the Control of Transboundary Animal Diseases (TADs) in Abuja,Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo who was represented by the minister of health, Dr Osagie Ehanire said that the federal government recognised the key role livestock industry plays in the provision of diet and livelihoods through its numerous value chains.

The 5-years strategy provides a guide for implementing prevention, control and eradication of TADs in Nigeria in line with global best practices with major focus on Peste Des petits Ruminants (PPR ), Foot and Mouth Disease, African Swine Fever, Trypanosomiasis Tick borne Diseases, Equine Influenza and focus for the elimination of dog mediated rabies diseases.

The Vice President said the government realised that despite all efforts at controlling TADs, stakeholders requires a roadmap that will guide them properly to be able to control and achieve eventual eradication of the diseases.

He noted that the One health approch was necessary for total eradication of the diseases.

To address TADs challenges holistically, minister of agriculture and rural development, Dr Mohammad Mahmood Abubakar said federal government is targeting the establishment of primary animal health centres in all the 774 LGAs of Nigeria in due course.

The minister equally called for more funding including the support of development partners and donor agencies to enable government implement the strategic control plans for the control and eradication of TADs in the country.