World Veterinary Day: 100 Dogs get free vaccination in Taraba

About 100 dogs were targeted to receive free vaccination with certificates issued to their owners at the Veterinary Hospital, Jalingo when the Taraba State chapter of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) marked its 2017 World Veterinary Day.

Speaking at the ceremony, with the theme, “Antimicrobial Resistance from Awareness to Action”, the state Chairman, NVMA, Dr. Ibrahim Gideon Pasoki, said the World Veterinary Day is observed globally, since seventeen years ago by World Veterinary Association and World Animal Health Organisation.

According to him, the programme was aimed at celebrating the great achievements and the impacts of Veterinarian in the improvements of livestock well being.

He explained that any single achievement made in the veterinary profession, is a requisite for the betterment of the human race.

“If diseases are tamed in the animal race, it is the humans that rejoice because most of the diseases that affect man are traceable to livestock origin”
“Diseases like Ebola, Lassa fever, Tuberculosis (TB), Rabies Teneasis, anthrax, etc that affect man are all from livestock origin”, he said.
Dr. Pasoki further described the role of the Veterinarian as not only barricading the flow of diseases from livestock to human but also, in the security of man through the training of some animals.
It was in view of the above statement that he revealed that in this year’s national celebration, a dog called Teacher in Maiduguri, Borno State, specialized in detecting terrorists until it was killed, was to be crowned with an award.
He added that NVMA, Taraba Chapter wants to promote what it described as the Watchmen (Dogs) by offering them free vaccination and licenses as their contributions to the security of the people.
The Guest Speaker, Dr. Abubakar Dauda, Director, Veterinary Services, Taraba State Ministry of Agriculture, Jalingo explained that Antimicrobial resistance occurs due to so many reasons, describing one of them as the abuse in the use of antibiotics.
Dr Dauda, however, called on the private sector Veterinarians to partner the public sector Veterinarians, saying they have to come together to work for the progress of the profession and mankind.
He added that there is no reason for both to work in isolation.