VETERINARY EXPERT CALLS FOR INCREASED FUNDING OF ANIMAL HUSBANDRY SUB- SECTOR

REPORTER: NDU NWANNAH

An Expert in Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Herbert Okafor, has called for increased funding of the Animal Husbandry sector of the economy to ensure healthy meat production in the country.

Dr. Okafor stated this in Awka, while speaking with Radio Nigeria on the occasion of the 2023 World Veterinary Day celebration with the theme, “Strengthening Veterinary Resilience.”

The World Veterinary Association was established in 1959 during a congress of stakeholders in Madrid, Spain while the decision to celebrate World Veterinary Day annually on the last Saturday in April was taken in 2001.

World Veterinary Day is intended to create awareness about animal health care and curb cruelty.

The theme of the event revolves around providing Vet doctors with necessary help and resources to adequately carry out their professional duties.

Commenting further on the celebration, Dr. Herbert Okafor, urged government at all levels to ensure proper funding of veterinary units to attract more professionals in the industry.

Dr. Okafor explained that professional care should be extended to animals to guard against the emergence of more zonotic diseases.

He noted that pet owners and livestock breeders must come to the realization that they should not allow them to roam the streets, causing harms to people and destroying their farms.

Dr. Okafor lamented the poor level of supervision in abattoirs, stressing that there was the need for proper certification of animals before they were slaughtered for consumption.

Contriburing, a school teacher, Mrs. Uju Nwoye, called for measures to be put in place to ensure that animal breeders followed best practices in giving them adequate care.

Mrs. Nwoye urged government to establish and equip veterinary clinics closer to citizens to enable them to access easy care for their pets.