Health
Anthrax: Stakeholders advocates for strict supervision of abattoirs
As part of efforts to curb the spread of Anthrax, (a spore-forming bacterium, which mostly affects livestock like cattle, sheep and goats), stakeholders have called on the federal and state governments, to ensure strict supervision of abattoirs across the country to check the spread of Anthrax.
Speaking on Sunday, the stakeholders called on the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to ensure that only healthy animals were slaughtered for the consumption of the citizens.
Mr Isa Yeah, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, Nasarawa State, said government had set up machinery in motion to ensure that butchers adhere to standard practice in all abattoirs in the state.
According to him, the state government was working assiduously to improve facilities at the two abattoirs in the state located at Karu and Lafia.
He said that abattoirs are under the control of the state government, and veterinarians are assigned to ascertain the health of animals.
He added that proposals from private investors willing to construct and operate private abattoirs were being considered by government.
Mr Ezekiel Baba, a Lecturer with the College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia, said that there are only two abattoirs in the state.
He commended the state government for ensuring that animals and their products are examined before slaughtering and selling to consumers.
Baba appealed to veterinarians to also ensure that animals taken to the abattoirs for slaughtering, were certified for human consumption.
Also, Dr Tolu Omotugwa, a veterinary doctor working with the Kogi state government, said that all functional abattoirs in the state, are manned by veterinary doctors.
“The meat being processed at the abattoirs are of high quality for human consumption. This is largely due veterinary doctors who are always on ground to inspect the cows brought for slaughtering.
“I can tell you authoritatively that the meats being sold in the markets are healthy and very safe for consumption.
“Recently we intercepted some carcass from going into the markets due to the measures put in place by government to checkmate unhealthy meat infiltrating our markets.
“The meat that are condemned, we do condemn them, and those meats that are healthy and safe, we allow them to pass to the markets, ” he said.
Tolu urged government to complete the new abattoir with modern facilities for ease and seamless slaughtering of cattle.
Mrs Helen Momoh, a business woman, said that she had never had cause to be afraid of buying meat in any market in Lokoja metropolis.
“I think we should commend the government and butchers in the various abattoirs in Kogi for their efforts at providing healthy and quality meats in our markets.
“Health is key, and any meat being sold must be safe for consumption by the populace, ” she said.
Mr Victor Kunle, said that beside the incident of April 2022, “we never had any cause to fear buying meat in the markets.”
Mr Seun Babalola, a Sanitarian with Kogi Ministry of Environment, said the ministry had put everything in place to ensure that the abattoirs were kept clean.
He said that the Kogi State Sanitation and Waste Management Board (KSSWMB) are collaborating with the department of Veterinary Services in the Ministry of Agriculture, to ensure clean and safe environment at the abattoirs.
Babalola said that the team still embark on inspection to some of the abattoirs located in Lokoja, and that the same thing was happening in all the 21 local government areas of the state.
Dr Adamu Ibrahim-Kato, Director of Public Health, Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries, Niger, said that veterinary officiakls were always on ground to inspect animals before slaughtering.
“These strict inspection help us to ascertain animals that are sick or infected so that we don’t kill them but place them on treatment for recovery.
“When they recover fully and are certified healthy and fit, they may be slaughtered for consumption. But if they have a relapse, we continue with the treatment, ” he said .
In a bid to enhance medical care for Nigerians, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed six new Chief Medical Directors (CMDs) for Federal Hospitals across the country.
Among those appointed is Dr. Ikrama Hassan, who will now serve as the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Teaching Hospital, Lafia, Nasarawa State. Dr. Hassan, a seasoned consultant physician, previously served as the Medical Director of Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital before its elevation to a teaching hospital.
The full list of newly appointed CMDs includes:
Prof. Olusegun Sylvester Ojo – Federal Teaching Hospital, Akure, Ondo State.
Prof. Yusuf Mohammed Abdullahi (Reappointed) – Federal Teaching Hospital, Gombe.
Dr. Dauda Abubakar Katagum – Federal Teaching Hospital, Azare, Bauchi State.
Dr. Ikrama Hassan – Federal Teaching Hospital, Lafia, Nasarawa State.
Dr. Ali Mohammed Ramat – National Orthopedic Hospital, Maiduguri, Borno State.
Dr. Haruna Abubakar Shehu – Federal Medical Centre, Kafanchan, Kaduna State.
Each appointment is for a four-year term, effective from the date of assumption of duty.
President Tinubu congratulated the appointees, urging them to uphold the highest standards of professionalism and service delivery. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving medical infrastructure and ensuring quality healthcare access for all Nigerians.
Senator representing Kebbi South Senatorial District, Garba Maidoki has called for the establishment of a Federal Medical Centre to be situated in Zuru to cater for the health needs of the District and its environs.
The lawmaker in the 10th National Assembly made the call during a public hearing on the Bill to establish Federal Medical Centre in Zuru organized by the Senate Committee on Health.
In a memorandum presented at the hearing by the lawmaker, he explained that the aim is to provide tertiary healthcare facilities to the people of Zuru in Kebbi State in the North West Nigeria.
He further noted that the establishment of FMCs across the country was initiated by Decree No. 10 of 1985, with the aim of providing tertiary healthcare services.
According to him, the FMC Birnin Kebbi was established on June 6, 2000, and has since been upgraded to a University Teaching Hospital.
The lawmaker stated that the large population and the challenges faced in accessing healthcare services, necessitates the establishment of FMC in the state.
“In Birnin Kebbi, the state capital, the distance between Zuru Emirate and Birnin Kebbi is approximately 240 km, making it difficult for patients, especially children and pregnant women, to access secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities”, he lamented.
Senator Maidoki charged his colleagues and the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare to support the bill, saying healthcare is a fundamental privilege expected from any government.
The lawmaker who is the sponsor of the bill told journalists during a chat that the Federal Medical Center, when established will not only cater for the tertiary healthcare needs of Kebbi State, but will also serve the adjoining states like Niger and Zamfara.
The Kogi State is set to receive enhanced funding of 500 million dollars from the World Bank to improve access to high quality basic education and Primary Healthcare Services in the state.
The Commissioner for Finance, Budget, and Economic Planning, Honourable Asiwaju Idris disclosed this at a Citizens’ Sensitization Programme held at the Government House in Lokoja on Thursday.
He noted that the World Bank assisted Programme under the HOPE-GOV initiative will avail the state of over 500 million dollars in enhanced funding to strengthen basic education and Primary healthcare services in the state.
He added that Education and Healthcare are the pillars upon which a productive, innovative and resilient society is built upon, stressing that improved funding for education and healthcare which are two indices of human capital development is critical for accelerating progress and inclusive growth in the state.
The State Accountant General and World Bank Fiscal Focal Person, Dr. Habibat Tijani, emphasized that the HOPE-GOV initiative will support the efforts of the state government to enhance fiscal transparency, improve budget credibility, and ensure accountability in the use of funds for policies and programmes of the state government.
She noted that the initiative will increase the availability and effectiveness of financing for education and healthcare, improve recruitment and performance of teachers and healthcare workers in the state.
The Commissioner for Education, Honorable Wemi Jones lauded the initiative and commended Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s efforts in repositioning the education sector in the state adding that over ₦1.2 billion has been allocated for external examination fees of pupils and students in primary and secondary schools by the present administration.
Similarly, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Abdulazeez Adams noted that the Hope-Gov initiative is set to revolutionize healthcare service delivery and promote access to essential healthcare services in the state.
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