The national coordinator of Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES), Dr. Sanusi Abubakar, has lamented the dearth of veterinary professionals Nigerian rural communities. Sanusi Abubakar, has lamented the dearth of veterinary professionals Nigerian rural communities., has lamented the dearth of veterinary professionals Nigerian rural communities.

Abubakar, in Ilorin, Kwara State explained that over 80 per cent of vet doctors in Nigeria work in the private sector and mainly in urban centres, leaving farmers in rural communities with limited access to them.

Consequently, he said L-PRES and the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development and the Office of the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria, had concluded plans to deploy 780 private veterinarians and veterinary para-professionals to over 1,000 livestock clusters in 13 states in its Private Veterinary Service (PVS.)

“One vet will engage five others making 60 vets in a State and in 13 States, thereby giving us a total of 780 vets,” he hinted.

According to him, the initiative would be a public-private partnership to provide quality veterinary services to livestock farmers, particularly those in rural areas where animal health personnel are in short supply.

He said the programme has the potential to reach at least 26,000 livestock farmers, while strengthening the veterinary workforce and creating employment opportunities for young veterinarians and para-veterinarians.

Subsequently, the L-PRES, on Thursday, commenced the pilot implementation of its Private Veterinary Service (PVS) programme in Kwara state, as part of efforts to strengthen animal health services and improve livestock productivity across Nigeria.

He said the initiative would also improve disease surveillance, facilitate early response to outbreaks and ultimately boost productivity in the livestock sector.

Abubakar described Kwara as one of the leading states in the implementation of L-PRES, noting that it was the first state where the flag-off of the PVS programme was taking place.

He said that L-PRES had completed a Model Veterinary Hospital in Ilorin and a Strategic Animal Holding Facility at the Baruten border, while a pilot waste management plan was ongoing at Akerebiata, Ilorin.

The National Project Coordinator also announced plans to establish additional veterinary clinics and a strategic vaccine storage facility in Ilorin.

He commended the Kwara state government for its support and cooperation towards the successful implementation of the project.

Also, state Commissioner for Livestock Development, Mrs. Oloruntoyosi Thomas, said the state government was strengthening livestock production and animal health services through its collaboration with L-PRES.

Thomas said the PVS programme would deploy selected private veterinarians to work alongside government veterinary officers to provide professional animal health services across the state.

She said the initiative would improve disease surveillance, increase vaccination coverage and strengthen the state’s response to disease outbreaks, while promoting the responsible use of veterinary drugs.

The commissioner said the state government had, over the past two years, implemented various interventions aimed at improving the livestock sector, including artificial insemination and the provision of water, feed and pasture for pastoralist communities.

She added that demonstration farms had also been established, while livestock farmers received equipment including threshers, crushers, pelleting and baling machines to support feed production.

According to her, veterinary clinics and slaughter facilities across the state had also been renovated and equipped.

Thomas said more than 238,000 animals had been vaccinated, while over 800 livestock value-chain players had been mapped and profiled and more than 2,000 farmers trained under the various interventions.

She said improved animal health would translate into increased production of milk and meat, better animal reproduction, improved livelihoods for livestock farmers and greater contribution of the sector to the state’s economy.

The commissioner charged the private veterinarians engaged under the programme to carry out their duties with integrity and professionalism, describing them as important partners in the development of the livestock sector.