Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The Ekiti State Government has commenced a mass vaccination exercise to protect livestock from zoonotic diseases, including Anthrax.
According to the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Ebenezer Boluwade on Tuesday, the exercise is being carried out under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, a collaboration between the World Bank and the state government.
Boluwade described the exercise as “a proactive measure to prevent the spread of Anthrax disease, which can have devastating consequences on our livestock population and the economy.”
The state government has made available 100,000 doses of Anthrax vaccines, which will be administered free of charge to animals across the 16 local government areas of the state.
State Project Coordinator, Olayinka Adedipe, emphasized the importance of preventing diseases, particularly zoonotic diseases like Anthrax, which can affect both animals and humans.
Adedipe urged livestock owners to present their animals for vaccination, stressing that “Anthrax is a deadly zoonotic disease that affects both animal and human beings.”
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture, Ebenezer Ojo, assured that the vaccination exercise will be carried out efficiently and effectively, targeting cattle, goats, and sheep in various locations across the state.
He called on livestock owners and stakeholders to cooperate with the team of veterinarians and animal health professionals conducting the free vaccination, emphasizing that “this exercise is proof of our commitment to ensuring the well-being of our livestock, promoting food security, and safeguarding public health.”
