Abuja: The World Bank-assisted Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) has successfully trained over 80 veterinarians, para-veterinarians, and community animal health workers to advance disease detection, control, and eradication strategies within Nigeria's livestock sector. The comprehensive training was attended by participants from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), focusing on raising awareness, managing risks, and fortifying the national response to livestock diseases.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Dr. Sanusi Abubakar, National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, emphasized the importance of the workshop in Abuja, highlighting its role in uniting frontline professionals who directly influence livestock health and productivity across the nation. Represented by Dr. Mustapha Mohammad, National Animal Health Specialist of L-PRES, Abubakar noted that the training aligns with the Project Development Objective (PDO) of enhancing productivity and commercialization of targeted value chain production systems, while also strengthening Nigeria's ability to address crises in the livestock sector.
The workshop, forming part of Sub-Component Three of the L-PRES Project Appraisal Document, concentrated on animal health services, including antimicrobial resistance control, vaccination against transboundary animal diseases, border surveillance, and private veterinary service delivery. It also aimed to strengthen One Health platforms and improve the national laboratory network.
Abubakar elaborated on the workshop's design to equip participants with modern skills in disease detection and containment, boost diagnostic capacity, foster professional collaboration, and encourage community involvement in livestock disease control. He praised the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development for its partnership and policy support, urging participants to leverage the workshop for professional growth and knowledge exchange.
Dr. Mohammad added that each state and the FCT selected a veterinary doctor and a para-veterinarian for the training, intending to enhance their capabilities in disease detection, surveillance, prevention, and risk communication at the local level. He emphasized the importance of addressing health issues to ensure robust and efficient livestock productivity, noting that mortality and morbidity must be minimized to guarantee productivity.