Anthrax: KWSG flags off Second Vaccination Campaign
In a bid to avoid zoonotic diseases in Kwara, the State Government has commenced the second phase of a statewide mass anthrax vaccination campaign across the 16 Local Government Areas of the State.
The State Commissioner for Livestock Development, Hon Oloruntoyosi Thomas-Adebayo, performed the flag off ceremony on Wednesday at the Ministry's Headquarters, along Jebba road, Ilorin, the State capital.
Flagging off the campaign, the Commissioner explained that the campaign is necessary to avoid zoonotic disease, adding that government has approved logistics supports, a state-wide mass vaccination of susceptible animals such as; cattle, sheep and goats.
The Commissioner who spoke through the Director, Personnel, Finance and Supply of the Ministry, Mallam Yusuf Rafiu, stressed further that anthrax is a bacterial zoonotic disease of economic and public health concern, affecting both animals and human beings, with a high degree of morbidity and mortality.
"Due to the risk associated with anthrax and its tendency to spread through trans-boundary movement of trade animals, mostly ruminants across state borders, it therefore becomes necessary for the State to activate its rapid response mechanisms and initiate proactive measures towards the mitigation of the occurrence and spread of the disease in the State."
The Commissioner, applauded the administration of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for the creation of the Ministry, and its continued efforts at ensuring sustainable livestock development in Kwara.
Also speaking, the Director, Veterinary Services of the Ministry, Dr. Olugbon Abdullateef Saliman, explained that the essence of the vaccination campaign is not only to eradicate anthrax but also to mitigate the occurrence and spread of the disease in the State.
While highlighting the importance of the vaccination, Dr. Olugbon maintained that the vaccination campaign was initiated with a view to protecting animal health and boosting livestock productivity in the value chain.
The Director, disclosed that the intention of the vaccination exercise is to safeguard animals to man transmission of the disease, as anthrax poses serious threats to both animals and human beings.
Dr. Olugbon therefore, appealed to animal owners and livestock farmers to embrace the opportunity and present their animals for vaccination, as a team of Veterinary Professionals from the Ministry of Livestock Development had been deployed to all the Local Government Areas in the State, to carry out the exercise in ruminants.
He further disclosed that the vaccination is free of charge and will last for 27 days, commencing from Friday, April 4, to Wednesday, April 30, 2025.
Olugbon, therefore, called on Local Government Council Chairmen, Traditional rulers, Community leaders and Stakeholders to help to disseminate the information to their people, to ensure a successful vaccination exercise in their various domains.
In their separate remarks, the Head, Epidemiology Unit of the Ministry, Dr Aminu Idiat and Assistant Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr. Babatunde Johnson, advised the inoculators to be diligent and exhibit a high level of professionalism during the vaccination exercise, to ensure effective coverage.
They also urged the vaccinators to aim at reaching farmers in the hinterlands and small ruminants.
Ahmed Ajiboye
Press Secretary
MOLD
08166043369
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