By Felicia Imohimi
The National Veterinary Service (NVS) has urged veterinarians to remain alert and support Federal Government’s effort of providing qualitative and robust services for livestock industry in particular and humanity in general.
The Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, Dr Olaniran Alabi, who gave the advice at the commemoration of the World Veterinary Day on Saturday in Abuja, commended the veterinarians across the country.
Alabi noted that the veterinary profession had undoubtedly contributed immensely to public health through the control and containment of transboundary animal, zoonotic diseases and ensuring global food security.
He urged the veterinarians to continually render the required services in addressing the global emergency in the face of the current global COVID-19 pandemic with resultant negative public health consequences and impending food security implications.
“It is apt to state that your efforts in the control of transboundary and zoonotic diseases such as High Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) and others in the past are worthy of commendation,” he said.
He gave assurance that the profession would sustain and strengthen the ongoing collaboration and cooperation with relevant stakeholders in the containment of the deadly COVID-19 in particular and zoonoses in general.
He said such stakeholders include the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC) and Health sector.
Alabi further gave assurance that the NVS would continue to strengthen animal health care delivery, food safety and animal welfare services across the country.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World Veterinary Day marked annually on April 25, has its 2020 theme: “Environmental protection for improving animal and human health.”
The day was set aside by the World Veterinary Association in 2000 to highlight and promote the lifesaving work performed by veterinarians around the globe.
It was aimed to promote the veterinary profession and work on improvement of the animal and human welfare, the environment, food safety, and practices of animal transport and quarantine. (NAN)
