The World Bank-assisted Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project has trained over 80 veterinarians, para-veterinarians, and community animal health workers on improved disease detection, control, and eradication strategies.

The training, which drew participants from the 36 states and the FCT, also focused on awareness creation, risk management, and strengthening national response to livestock diseases.

Sanusi Abubakar, national project coordinator of L-PRES, said on Friday in Abuja that the workshop brought together a crucial group of frontline professionals whose work directly impacts livestock health and productivity nationwide.

Mr Abubakar said the exercise was aligned with the project development objective of improving productivity and commercialisation of targeted value chain production systems.

He added that it was also aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s capacity to respond effectively to crises in the livestock sector.

“Importantly, this workshop falls squarely within the scope of sub-component three of the L-PRES Project Appraisal Document, which focuses on animal health services,” he said.

According to him, the component covers antimicrobial resistance control, vaccination against transboundary animal diseases, border surveillance, private veterinary service delivery, strengthening One Health platforms, and improving the national laboratory network.

He explained that the workshop was designed to equip participants with modern skills for disease detection and containment, enhance diagnostic capacity, improve collaboration among professionals, and promote community engagement in livestock disease control.

Mr Abubakar commended the Federal Ministry of Livestock Development for its strong partnership and policy support, noting that participants should use the workshop as a platform for professional development and knowledge sharing.

He said each state and Abuja nominated a veterinary doctor and a para-veterinarian for the training. He added that the aim was to boost their capacity in disease detection, surveillance, prevention, and risk communication at the local level.

“We cannot have robust and efficient livestock productivity when health issues are taken for granted. If you have animal mortality and morbidity, productivity cannot be guaranteed, hence the training,” he said.

(NAN)