BY: Hassan Turaki.
The Jigawa State Ministry for Local Government and Community Development, in collaboration with the 27 Local Government Councils in the state, has launched a major sensitization workshop on strategies to improve animal health across the state.
The 3-day workshop, which was opened on Monday, will be held in the all the senatorial district of the state to include 27 local government areas in the state. The aim of the workshop is to gather ideas and expertise from stakeholders in order to develop new strategies to address animal health challenges in the state.
Speaking to journalists before the start of the workshop, Prof. Nuhu Bello Rano of Bayero University said the state government regards animal health as a foundation for rural economic development.He said there is a need to pay special attention to early detection of disease symptoms, proper diagnosis, and prompt treatment to prevent their spread and the loss of livestock belonging to herders.
Prof. Rano explained that poor animal health can affect the production of meat, milk, and other livestock products, which directly impacts the people’s food supply and income.He further stated that the administration of Governor Umar Namadi is committed to ensuring the success of this project by providing training for herders at the local government level to bring services closer to the people.
Prof. commended Governor Namadi and the chairmen of the 27 local government councils for the support they are giving toward implementing this important initiative. He said this shows the government’s commitment to prioritizing the livestock and herding sector.
On his part, the Chairman of Miyetti Allah Kautal Hore in Jigawa State expressed satisfaction with the way the government is supporting them. He said the assistance given to herders is helping to reduce conflicts and improve their livelihoods.
He urged the government to continue providing grazing areas, water points for animals, and animal health centers within the boundaries of local government areas to reduce the problem of disease spread.
Animal health officers who attended the workshop said the outcomes of the meeting will be used to formulate policies and plans for the coming years.
