The Jigawa government has recruited 300 community-based animal health workers.

At the inauguration in Dutse, Governor Umar Namadi said the workers are expected to provide mobile veterinary clinic services throughout Jigawa.

He explained that the gesture also fits with his administration’s development agenda of achieving sustained agricultural transformation in Jigawa.

The governor added that the beneficiaries were trained to provide mobile veterinary services to control and prevent the spread of animal diseases in the state’s 287 wards.

“Each of the 300 personnel will be provided with a motorcycle fully fitted with a medical toolbox, vaccination kits, drug box and other accessories for routine and emergency veterinary services.

“The youths have also been licensed as veterinary service providers to effectively respond to animal disease incidences even in the remote and hard-to-reach locations to control and contain preventable animal diseases,” the governor said.

According to him, the initiative is a component of the state government’s J-Agro Agricultural Extension Agents Programme, under which some 1,440 youths were enlisted to provide quality agricultural extension services to farmers.

“The competitive advantages enjoyed by Jigawa state in the agricultural sector go beyond crop production to encompass livestock development. We’ve also built on this through the goat breeding microcredit programme, which has empowered thousands of women in the state,” Mr Namadi said.

He further stated that 1,640 women were recently empowered with three goats each under the programme in four LGAs.

The governor assured that the programme would be sustained to reach the remaining 11 LGAs in Jigawa.

“Therefore, today’s inauguration of 300 mobile veterinary service providers is also part of our efforts to protect and develop the livestock population in the state,” the governor explained.

The president of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria, Aishatu Abubakar, commended the governor for the gesture. Ms Abubakar said the gesture will enhance food and feed safety and security in Jigawa and control Nigerians’ massive fleeing (japa) of the country.

(NAN)