In a sustained effort to enhance livestock productivity as a driver of economic growth and development, the Gombe State Government under the leadership of Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, has received over 200,000 doses of livestock vaccines to combat major animal diseases across the state.
The governor made this known while receiving the consignment from the National Office of the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project at the Veterinary Clinic and Solar-Powered Cold Chain Facility in Tashan Dukku, Gombe, on Monday.
The vaccines, which are to be administered free of charge, are aimed at controlling the spread of deadly animal diseases and safeguarding the livelihoods of livestock farmers across the state.
Receiving the consignment on behalf of the governor, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, Dr Barnabas Malle, expressed appreciation to the L-PRES National Office for prioritising Gombe State in its livestock development interventions.
He noted in a press statement obtained by our correspondent
that the vaccines would complement the state’s annual mass vaccination programme, recalling that the state had earlier procured Anthrax vaccines with the support of the L-PRES Project.
that the vaccines would complement the state’s annual mass vaccination programme, recalling that the state had earlier procured Anthrax vaccines with the support of the L-PRES Project.
“Today, you have delivered vaccines for Foot-and-Mouth Disease, Newcastle Disease and Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP),” Dr Malle said.
“Although Gombe has a large livestock population, these doses will significantly strengthen our annual vaccination efforts. His Excellency is also considering the procurement of additional vaccines to ensure full coverage of the state’s animal population,” he added.
While assuring that the vaccines would be judiciously and effectively utilized, the commissioner commended the strong synergy between the State Ministry of Agriculture and the L-PRES Project.
Presenting the consignment, the L-PRES National Coordinator, Dr. Sanusi Abubakar, represented by Dr. Sadik Abubakar Usman, provided a breakdown of the vaccines supplied.
“The consignment includes 150,000 doses for Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP), 50,000 doses for Newcastle Disease, and 4,000 doses for Foot-and-Mouth Disease,” he explained.
“These vaccines are meant to control trans-boundary animal diseases and improve overall livestock productivity”, he further highlighted.
The National Coordinator urged all stakeholders to ensure that the vaccines reach the intended beneficiaries, adding that another batch of vaccines – specifically for Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) – would soon be delivered to the state.
Also speaking, the Gombe State L-PRES Project Coordinator, Professor Usman Abubakar, described the intervention as critical to the state’s agricultural economy, stressing that “prevention is always better than cure.”
He identified the targeted diseases as major causes of livestock losses in the region and disclosed plans to constitute a technical working group to oversee the vaccination exercise.
Professor Abubakar encouraged herders and livestock farmers across the state to present their animals for the exercise, emphasizing that the vaccination programme is free, safe and effective.
The vaccines will be professionally stored and preserved at the newly established solar-powered cold chain facility provided by the Gombe State L-PRES Project to ensure potency and quality throughout the vaccination campaign.
