The Federal Government has launched a nationwide training program for epidemiological and veterinary public health officers in order to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to manage animal health emergencies.
This initiative is being implemented in partnership with the Food and Agriculture Organization and the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project, a World Bank-backed scheme.
The training is designed to equip participants with essential skills to prevent, detect, and respond effectively to outbreaks affecting animal populations.
At the official opening ceremony in Abuja, Minister of Livestock Development Idi Maiha highlighted the importance of rapid reporting and response in managing disease outbreaks.
“What matters most in animal health is not only thorough investigation but also the promptness of reporting and taking action,” Maiha said.
He further stressed that outbreaks in one state pose a threat to others, underlining the need for unified communication and coordinated management of transboundary diseases and animal movements across the country.
The program, titled “Good Emergency Management Practices in Animal Disease Response, Prevention and Control for Federal and State Epidemiology Officers in Nigeria,” aims to introduce new technologies and enhance officers’ capabilities in outbreak surveillance, planning, and reporting.
Dr Sanusi Abubakar, the National Project Coordinator for L-PRES, emphasized that the training is part of a broader goal to boost Nigeria’s overall readiness to handle animal health crises.
He explained that Good Emergency Management Practices, or GEMP, is an internationally recognized, evidence-based framework promoting organized and proactive emergency management.
Abubakar noted that the framework underscores the importance of coordination across different sectors and integrates the One Health approach, which links animal health, human health, and the environment.
This workshop is seen as a crucial step towards establishing a resilient veterinary public health system in Nigeria.
Highlighting the gaps in current expertise, Abubakar pointed out that many veterinary professionals at federal and state levels have yet to fully adopt contemporary best practices in emergency management.
He noted that the training seeks to bridge this gap by improving technical skills to develop, execute, and assess emergency preparedness plans tailored to the country’s needs.
