EU to scale up surveillance of livestock diseases in three states

The European Union, under its Livestock Disease Surveillance Knowledge Integration (LIDISKI) project, has scaled up surveillance and control of Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) and Newcastle Disease (ND) livestock diseases in Kano, Plateau, and Bauchi State.

The Head of Human Resources European Union Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS Dr Leila Mathieu in Abuja stated that the LIDISKI project has made substantial progress in disease surveillance of nearly 1,830 small ruminants suspected of PPR and 861 poultry suspected of ND reported by the State Veterinary Service.

She mentioned that the objective of the project was to improve surveillance and control for PPR and ND, diseases that have long posed significant risks to livestock health and productivity in the region, by focusing on both scientific research and practical interventions.

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The EU official mentioned that the project, which started in 2019, was implemented by a coalition of renowned organizations, including the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI), the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD), the Italian Health Authority and Research Organization for Animal Health and  Food Safety of Venezie (IZSVe), and Ikore, an international development organization based in Nigeria

She mentioned that the project has helped to transform the way local communities approach animal disease management, saying a survey was conducted to measure the level of impact, and of the 92 respondents, 91 reported a noticeable increase in their income.

Mathieu said the project has contributed to the vital data to inform the development of disease control strategies, such as training of local veterinary staff, including 138 Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) and 34 field

veterinarians, who received specialized training in surveillance and control measures for both PPR and ND.

Additionally, she said the project made significant strides in raising awareness among farmers, reaching more than 222,000 smallholder farmers across three states through information campaigns designed to educate them about disease prevention, vaccination schedules, and the importance of early reporting.

She mentioned that the project worked on improving access to vaccines, with over 2.25 million vaccines for PPR and ND reaching remote rural areas, ensuring that cold chain standards were maintained, notably through the installation of solar panels at NVRI headquarters and 5 outposts.

The Minister of State Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Senator Sabi Abdullahi commended the EU delegation and its partners for their collective efforts to strengthen animal health systems and ensure the agricultural sector is productive, resilient, and capable of meeting the nutritional needs of the population

The minister, however, solicited continued collaborations and innovation to sustain food security, enhance livestock health, and create sustainable agricultural practices that benefit all Nigerians.