In response to the frequent outbreaks of zoonotic diseases in Nigeria, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has emphasized the need for integrated strategies and policies to strengthen the animal health workforce. These measures aim to enhance timely and effective disease detection and response capabilities.
During the Regional Meeting for the Front-line In-Service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology (ISAVET) Programme in West and Central Africa, held in Abuja, the FAO Representative in Nigeria, Dominique Koffy Kouacou, highlighted that the ISAVET program, launched in 2018, is designed to build epidemiology capacity in the field, improving surveillance and response to health security threats across Africa.
Represented by Tofiq Braimah, International Operations Specialist at the FAO, Kouacou stated that the program’s goal is to develop a skilled workforce capable of responding swiftly to animal health emergencies, thereby enhancing food security and public health.
Kouacou noted that since January 2020, twelve countries in West and Central Africa, including Nigeria, have successfully implemented the ISAVET program. He praised the program’s focus on adapting to specific country needs while maintaining regional harmony, ensuring a sustainable impact across the continent.
The Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi, represented by Musa Inuwa, Director at the Department of Veterinary Services, also spoke at the event. He emphasized that ISAVET aligns with Nigeria’s objectives to strengthen the animal health system, protect public health, and ensure food security. Abdullahi highlighted that five cohorts comprising 156 participants, including 62 women, have been trained under the program in Nigeria, significantly bolstering the country’s capacity to manage disease outbreaks.
The Minister expressed optimism that the workshop would underscore the importance of regional collaboration in veterinary epidemiology, particularly in combating transboundary diseases such as Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza, Foot-and-Mouth Disease, and African Swine Fever.
