… Stresses Need for Proper Use of the Abattoir
From Toluwa Agboluaje, Ibadan
The Oyo state branch of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, NVMA, has alerted the public on food safety and the need to ensure that food of animal origin are free from antimicrobial drugs and agents that cause diseases in humans.
In order to educate the general public regarding the roles of veterinarians in the society, the state branch did organised an event to mark her week for this year.
Starting from Wednesday, September 25, they carried out meat inspection at the Central Abattoir, Amosun Village, Akinyele, Ibadan.
September 26 was devoted to a symposium themed :”Healthy Meat for Wealth”. With two lectures one titled: “Benefits of Upholding Standard Abattoir Practices” and the second one titled: “Abattoir Services in Oyo State: Past, Present and Future”, the event took place at the House of Chiefs, Oyo State House of Assembly, Oyo State Secretariat, Ibadan.
On Saturday September 28, Free Anti-Rabies vaccination of dogs at eleven designated veterinary clinics/hospitals in Oyo State was carried out to celebrate the World Rabies Day.
In his speech at the symposium the chairman, NVMA Oyo state branch, Dr Adedayo Adejuyigbe lauded the government for ensuring that enforcement was made for all to make use of the Central Abattoir located at Amosun village, Akinyele Local Government, Ibadan.
He also stressed the need for proper use of the abattoir with good result on the health of the general public.
According to him, there is an urgent need to employ more veterinary doctors to work as meat inspectors. Proper inspection of meat at the abattoir is essential for prevention of zoonotic tuberculosis, brucellosis, cysticercosis and other diseases that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Hon. Muyiwa Ojekunle, disclosed that the government would build another three standard abattoirs at different locations in the state. Ojekunle said adequate number of veterinary doctors will be employed to ensure that proper meat inspection is done to safeguard the health of the people.
Also a veterinary doctor and general secretary of the Association of Private Veterinary Medical Practitioners of Nigeria, Oyo state branch, Dr. Temidayo Bakare said rabies can be transmitted from infected animals to humans when bitten or in contact with the animal’s saliva
In his words, Dr. Bakare said “dogs being friends of humans, are the major source through which humans contract rabies. The disease when contracted by animals and humans is very deadly without any form of cure”
“With the presence of rabies in dog, it becomes unfriendly to people, even its owners”.
The primary method of prevention, and the more cost-effective intervention in the fight against rabies, is vaccination of domestic pets, particularly dogs. With the free anti-rabies vaccination activity done at the eleven veterinary clinics/hospitals on the World Rabies Day, September 28, two hundred and seventy four dogs were vaccinated.
This was intended towards achieving zero human death from rabies by the year 2030. More than 59,000 people die of rabies each year globally. That’s about 1 person dying of rabies every 9 minutes. Most of these deaths are in Africa and Asia, and nearly half of the victims are children under the age of 15.
The benefits of activities of veterinarians are not limited to animal health but also extend to human and environmental health.
