The Ekiti State Government has received 100,000 doses of the Anthrax vaccine from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
This initiative is part of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) project aimed at enhancing animal health services in the state.
The State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Hon. Ebenezer Boluwade, while speaking in Ado Ekiti emphasized the importance of vaccinating animals against Anthrax, describing it as a severe zoonotic disease that warrants proactive prevention measures.
Ekiti News reports that Hon. Boluwade announced plans for an extensive vaccination campaign aimed at curbing the spread of Anthrax in the state, targeting stakeholders in the beef/dairy, pig, and sheep/goat value chains.
Mr. Olayinka Adedipe, the State L-PRES Project Coordinator, commended the Federal Ministry of Agriculture for selecting Ekiti as the pioneer state to receive the Anthrax vaccine.
He pledged continued efforts in raising awareness and conducting sensitization campaigns across the state to encourage livestock farmers to vaccinate their animals.
Dr. Abubakar Sodiq, the Animal Health Technical Assistant of L-PRES, highlighted the significance of the Anthrax vaccine in preventing the spread of the disease within the livestock value chain.
Dr. Emmanuel Osayomi, the Director of Veterinary Services, emphasized the economic importance of Anthrax vaccination, citing its potential to prevent outbreaks that could result in significant financial losses and even fatalities.
Dr. Oluwaseun Oluwarotimi, the Animal Health Officer of L-PRES, expressed gratitude to the State government for prioritizing the livestock subsector, which he believes will safeguard the livelihoods of livestock farmers by preventing losses.