The Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) has trained 30 animal health workers in applied epidemiology, the One Health approach, and community engagement capabilities for better control and management of emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases.
The 30 cohorts, who were drawn from several state and federal agencies across the country for the epidemiology training were equipped with skills to improve surveillance and management of trans-boundary animal diseases through the use of new diagnostic and surveillance.
Speaking on behalf of the FAO Country Representative to Nigeria at the graduation ceremony of fourth Cohort of the In-Service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training (ISAVET), the Country Team Lead, FAO Emergency Center for Trans-boundary Animal Disease (ECTAD) country, Otto Vianney Muhinda applauded the programme.
He assured that FAO will do whatever is possible to strengthen and enhance the achievements and bring more innovations to contribute to the best future of the country.
The National Coordinator of the programme, Prof Hannatu Lombin mentioned that the four-month-long training titled: ISAVET programme, entailed a month-long class work that focused on epidemiological surveillance, field investigation and response, epidemiological methods, preparedness, ethics and professionalism, disease prevention and control, and One Health.
She stated that through the training the country is building a critical mass of frontline veterinarians that is changing the narratives of disease surveillance and reporting in Nigeria.
Prof Lombin however, urged the graduates to use the opportunity to make a difference, saying “let this exposure herald the beginning of a new paradigm shift in disease surveillance and reporting in your places of work, go out and shine like the stars you already are, the veterinary profession is counting on you to make giant strides.”
The Chief Veterinary Officer, Dr Terry Vakuru noted that ISAVET provides the unique opportunity to fulfill Nigeria’s disease reporting obligations for trans-boundary animal disease, adding that with bringing the private sector on board they will also be able to fulfill their obligations of disease reporting and also ensure their other colleagues cooperate to significantly improve disease reporting in Nigeria.
