The chairman of the Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Benue chapter, Andrew Amine, has decried the shortage of veterinary doctors in the state civil service.

Mr Amine disclosed this at the 2024 World Veterinary Day celebration, which was held on Saturday in Makurdi and was themed “Veterinarians are Essential Health Workers.”

The chairman appealed to Governor Hyacinth Alia to reinstate the veterinary doctors employed by the state civil service, but were later laid off.

He further disclosed that he had pleaded with the state commissioner for agriculture and food security on the same issue when he led other state officials on a courtesy visit to him.

Mr Amine emphasised that even if the sacked veterinary doctors were reinstated, they would still be inadequate, stressing that they should be reinstated and more employed to cater to the state’s growing veterinary services needs.

“The veterinary profession is large and laden with much-untapped potential to explore. It is consistently dynamic with some newer methods of treatments, equipment and facilities,” he said.

The chairman further said the association had taken the welfare of members as its top priority, explaining that efforts were made to register a cooperative society to give soft loans to younger veterinarians to enable them to start up or support their existing practices or businesses.

The event’s guest speaker, Aondowase Umayange, said their contribution to scientific research was invaluable, paving the way for groundbreaking medical advancements.

“It should be noted that the first organ transplant was done by Voronoff in the 1920s before Carrel conducted a series of human xenotransplantations (from nonhuman animal sources) in 1963,” he said.

He called on President Bola Tinubu to create a Ministry of Animal and Veterinary Services. He added that Mr Alia should replicate it and build ultra-modern abattoirs and veterinary hospitals for better service delivery.

(NAN)