The Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association says it will not hesitate to clampdown on any Butcher who sells animals infected with disease to the public for consumption.
The association which said this during a Sensitization Campaign to the Felele Abattoir in Lokoja as part of activities to mark this year’s World Tuberculosis Day, appealed to the Butchers to support the organization in its efforts to put an end to zoonotic Tuberculosis in Nigeria.
Data released by the World health organization, (WHO) in 2020, noted that out of every ten million cases of Tuberculosis, 10.4 percent, that is, 140,000 are from animals.
Out of this 140,000, 114,000 deaths were recorded in 2020 alone
In 2022, 130,000 people died worldwide as a result of Tuberculosis.
It is against this backdrop that the Kogi State Veterinary Medical Association took its campaign to the Felele Abattoir to educate Butchers on the need to end zoonotic Tuberculosis in the country.
The Kogi State Chairman, Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association, Dr Tolu Omotugba, noted that the recent figure of Tuberculosis patients is very worrisome hence the urgent need to fight the deadly disease.
Omotugba appealed to Kogi State Government to give priority attention to the welfare of Veterinary Doctors as they are doing a lot as gate keepers to public health.
The leadership of the Butchers’ Group in the Sate commended the Veterinary Doctors for their commitment to protection of public health but called on the Government to establish a modern Abattoir in line with global standard.
World tuberculosis day is celebrated annually on the 24th of March across the globe.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
