By Samuel Luka
The Bauchi state government has earmarked the sum of N80.9 million for the 2025 annual Livestock vaccination.
Governor Bala Mohammed stated this when he inaugurated the 2025 Livestock vaccination campaign in Itas-Gadau local government area on Monday.
Mohammed noted that the vaccination campaign has been prioritized towards fighting diseases such as contagious bovine Pneumonia, CPP and Cattle Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) for Sheep and Goats, and Newcastle disease for poultry.
He disclosed that the sum of N80.9 million have been budgeted to conduct the by-annual livestock vaccination campaign with an initial release of N40 million.
"For this round of vaccination campaign, the total of 1 million herds of cattle, 500 sheep and goats as well as 500 poultry are targeted to be vaccinated across the state", the Governor said.
Bala Mohammed who pledged the commitment of his administration to providing additional vaccines if the need arises, assured that the government will continue to work tirelessly towards a healthy livestock population in Bauchi state.
According to him, Bauchi state recorded 200 cases of dog bites in some local governments in 2024, with 23 cases of Rabies disease confirmed.
"Considering the deadly nature of rabies which is zoonotic disease transmitted through dog bite by unvaccinated dog, the state government has purchased 10,000 doses of anti-rabies vaccines and distributed them to all the veterinary clinics across the 20 local government areas to curb the escalation of the disease", he said.
The Governor called on people keeping dogs as pets, for hunting or for security reasons to carry them to the nearest veterinary hospital for vaccination free of charge.
Bala Mohammed while appreciating the important role of the veterinary sector in public health, preventive medicine and food security safety, among others noted that the veterinary sector has played a vital role in the control of emerging cases of diseases most of which he said are zoonotic in nature.
He said, to strengthen the role of veterinary profession in the livestock value chain, Bauchi state government has keyed into the World Bank assisted Livestock Productivity, Resilient Support project which is aimed at transforming the livestock sector.
Governor Mohammed further disclosed that Livestock Productivity, Resilient Support Project has conducted training for the combination of 100 veterinary and herdsmen health officers on disease monitoring and investigation.
Others trained, the Governor said, include 100 livestock farmers on the usage of crop residues as livestock feeds during the off-season, 80 pastoralists, women on milk hygiene and collection to ensure products would be packaged in a manner that is healthy.
Bala Mohammed added that the project will also renovate and construct slaughter houses and veterinary clinics in 14 local governments, rehabilitate laboratories and other facilities in 10 local government areas including the establishment of farmers school and the school of Agriculture.
0 Comments