The Ekiti State Government has intensified its efforts to prevent the spread of anthrax in the state, launching a mass vaccination campaign for livestock and planning to establish a modern veterinary hospital.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Ebenezer Boluwade, announced the plans during a sensitization program on the vaccination exercise, which began on January 28.
According to Boluwade, the proposed veterinary hospital will be equipped with a fully functional laboratory to improve disease diagnosis and treatment. “The facility will enhance the capacity of our animal health providers to offer quality veterinary services and conduct proper diagnostic tests,” he said.
The vaccination campaign, which is being implemented in collaboration with the World Bank-assisted Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, aims to inoculate livestock across the state’s 16 local government areas.
L-PRES State Project Coordinator, Mr. Olayinka Adedipe, emphasized the importance of the vaccination exercise, urging livestock owners to present their animals for inoculation. “Anthrax is a deadly zoonotic disease that affects both animals and humans. This mass vaccination aims to safeguard public health by preventing outbreaks that could severely impact the livestock industry and food security,” he said.
The Ekiti State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to leveraging agriculture as a driver for industrialization, food security, and economic prosperity, with enhanced veterinary care and disease prevention as key components of its agenda.
The government has urged livestock owners and the general public to cooperate with the vaccination team and report any suspected cases of anthrax to the nearest veterinary clinic.
