The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) of UN and European Union; has trained 40 community-based animal health workers in Borno. The training and equipping of health workers, is a comprehensive initiative funded by EU to enhance resilience of conflict affected stallholders in Northeast. Over a decade long insurgency; has also claimed 36,000 lives with property worth about N3.42 trillion in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states. Country Representative of FAO, Fred Kafeero disclosed this Monday, while graduating community-based animal health workers at the University of Maiduguri (UNIMAID) El-Kanemi Hall.
He said the trained health workers will be registered and licensed by the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) to fulfil statutory requirements. He added that they will also be supervised by qualified veterinarians the state’s veterinary services division of Ministry of Animal Resources and Fisheries Development. “The 40 trainees graduating today are part of 150 targeted for the training of animal health workers,” he said. According to him, conflict in the northeast has also adversely affected livestock health, wellbeing and productivity. Kafeero, who was represented by Al Hassan Cisse at graduation ceremony, disclosed: “The over a decade conflict has adverse implications on household income, livelihoods and animal welfare.” He said veterinary infrastructure has been destroyed, including the disruptions of veterinary services. He said the available limited services, were however overwhelmed by displacing veterinary personnel in insurgency affected rural communities.
“This has resulted in the loss of livestock assets and over-concentration of livestock in areas considered safe,” he said. He warned that inaccessibility of veterinary services; has increased the risk of diseases, including zoonotic and limited feeds and water. Cisse charged the animal health workers to prevent sickness and death and sustain value of surviving animals. He said veterinary services are essential for asset protection by allowing livestock based livelihoods to flourish with incomes. Besides, he added that generated incomes, enable pastoralists to meet household needs and invest in alternative livelihoods. On challenges of rendering veterinary services, he said: “You’re to provide critical primary veterinary care in remote and hard to reach areas,” noting that CBAHWs are important with Borno’s ongoing rebuilding efforts with humanitarian partners. He said last year, FAO vaccinated 120,000 cattle, sheep and goats against Contagious Bovine Pleuropneeumonia (CBPP), Black Quarter (BQ and Peste des Ruminants (PPR).
He added that since 2016, the UN agricultural organisation, distributed over 60,000 hybrid animals to smallholders households in Borno, Adamawa and Yobe states
