Over 10,000 animals have been vaccinated against anthrax and other infectious diseases affecting animal health across Zamfara State.
The Coordinator, Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L PRESS) in Zamfara State, Mr Nasiru Mohammed stated this at a two day capacity building training on effective disease surveillance for Veterinarians, para - veterinarians and community animal health workers held in Gusau.
Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, L-PRESS is an agricultural project aimed at enhancing livestock productivity, resilience and sustainability particularly in rural areas.
Mr Nasiru Mohammed explained that, vaccination exercise is ongoing across the fourteenth local government area of the state being carried out in collaboration with Zamfara state government.
He stated that, the Project had received over four hundred thousand dose of animals vaccines for the exercise from it National office.
According to Mr Mohammed, the vaccination exercise had been a success since its launch in December last year by the state's Deputy Governor, Mani Malam Mumini, saying that, it was a significant achievement in protecting animal health and preventing the spread of diseases.
He noted that, the exercise would help significantly in reducing animals mortality rate, improve animal productivity and enhance food security as well as to Protect human health.
Mr Mohammed further revealed that, the main objective of organising the capacity building training was to educate the participants on the principles and importance of disease surveillance in maintaining animal health and preventing the spread of infectious diseases.
The Coordinator maintained that, the training was also to equip participants with practical skills in conducting surveillance activities, including data collection, analysis and reporting of such animal cases.
The Coordinator stressed that, early detection is key to controlling outbreaks of any animal disease while accurate data helps them understand disease patterns and make informed decisions.
Earlier, one of the resources person, Dr Nafiu Lawal of Danfodiyo University Sokoto, expressed gratitude with the way the participants conducted themselves and asked relevant questions.
"The responses we have gotten sofar shows that, what we have trained them on and they have benefited immensely.
Some of the participants who spoke with Radio Nigeria at the end of the training, said the training has equipped them with latest knowledge and best practices, enabling them to perform their duties effectively.
They commended the L-PRESS projects for organizing the training, which has broadened their understanding of the current realities in their field.
More than one hundred Animal health workers attended the two day training.
The L-PRESS project is expected to contribute to the development of the livestock sector in Nigeria, improving the lives of livestock farmers, pastoral lists, and their communities.
