The veterinary sector in Nigeria is currently facing significant challenges, particularly in the fight against Newcastle disease, a highly contagious disease in birds. Dr. Moses Arokoyo, President of the NVMA, recently revealed in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the disease poses a significant economic burden to the country.
Newcastle disease affects different types of birds such as chickens, turkeys, geese, ducks, pheasants, partridges, guinea fowl, as well as other wild and captive birds such as ostriches, emus and rheas. This disease causes significant losses for breeders and has a negative impact on food security.
Dr Arokoyo stressed that significant investments are required to combat this disease and considerable resources could be allocated to other development projects if adequate veterinary services were available in rural areas. He highlighted the crucial role of veterinarians in the prevention and control of animal diseases, stressing that the current number of veterinarians in relation to the number of animals is clearly insufficient to meet the country’s needs in terms of animal health and Food Safety.
Furthermore, Dr. Arokoyo highlighted the close link between animal diseases and emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases, emphasizing that 75% of these diseases come from animals. He also stressed the importance of employing more veterinarians in rural areas to effectively combat these diseases and ensure food security.
In conclusion, it is imperative that Nigeria pays greater attention to the veterinary sector and strengthens its capacity to deal with current animal health challenges. Controlling Newcastle disease and other animal diseases is essential to ensure food security and promote sustainable development in the country.