• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Abia urged to deploy vet-doctors at cattle control post to stem Bovine Tuberculosis

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Abia State Government has been advised to deploy veterinary doctors at the Abia Cattle Control Post, in Lokpanta, a boundary town between Abia and Enugu States, to ensure diseased animals are treated before entering the State.

Recall that the State’s Ministry of Agriculture, recently announced that it discovered that some cows slaughtered in the State were infected with Bovine Tuberculosis and advised residents to desist from eating cow lungs in order not to contract the disease.

Queenlilia Nwokocha, director, Veterinary Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Abia State, gave the advice Monday in an interview with newsmen.

She observed that the absence of veterinary officers at the post is the reason cattle with diseases, including the dreaded Bovine Tuberculosis, easily enter the state.

“We have been noticing the presence of Bovine Tuberculosis) from time to time, but recently, it became prevalent, because of the lack of proper veterinary supervision at the cattle control post.

“The post is meant to control diseases in animals, which could be dangerous to humans.

“The Vets are not at the cattle control post, which has made our work more tedious, because we try to do our best to checkmate cattle diseases at slaughterhouses across the State.

“The cattle control post has been handed over to contractors and so we do not have power over their activities, but it is expedient that veterinary officers should be there to ensure only healthy animals enter the state, she advised.

Nwokocha said the presence of veterinary doctors at the control post, would reduce their clash with butchers, who feel they are always out to cause them losses when officers condemn the diseased carcass of their cow.

She narrated a recent case where a decomposing cattle carcass brought in was condemned at an abattoir and the butcher involved made trouble and took the officers to the police, for condemning his meat.

She stated that the post should not focus on packing animals and collecting money, but checkmating diseased animals meant for the State.

“We are supposed to be there to check and treat animals that are sick so that if we see those ones that are not very sound, they can be quarantined and treated before moving them to the market”.

She suggested the issuance of movement permits to animals already checked, to indicate that a veterinary officer has certified the animals safe for movement to the State.

Nwokocha also observed that these processes are important to checkmate Bovine tuberculosis and other zoonotic diseases that affect man, stressing that over 80 percent of diseases affecting humans come from animals.

She thanked Governor Okezie Ikpeazu, who has been supportive, to help them more in gaining access to the Lokpanta cattle control post, to enable them to reduce animal diseases entering Abia.

She explained that her office was just coming out from handling Tropical Swine Flu in Abia, when the Bovine Tuberculosis emerged, adding that allowing veterinary doctors to do their jobs, would ensure Abia residents consume healthy meat.