FEC okays revised National Animal Health policy
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has proactively improved animal care and vaccination through the program tagged National Animal Health Policy at a meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Mohammad Abubakar, briefed State House correspondents after the FEC meeting on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The minister said he presented a memo on revising the old or previous policy that dealt with animal health.
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“A lot of things have happened that brought to the fore the critical importance of animal health, the new components where we must be conscious of how healthy the animals are whether they are pets; whether livestock that we use for food or whatever reasons.
“We realised that the frequency of zoonotic diseases–from animals to infect humans–seems to be on the rise.
According to Abubakar, the memo aims to increase tracing, caring for the animals, discovering new diseases, and vaccinating all kinds of animals.
“For example, rabies in dogs; we just commenced vaccination of dogs that may have rabies because if they do, they can infect humans.
“This is not just with viruses; even bacteria can be harboured in animals and transmitted to humans.
He said there was a collaboration with state governments as states and other stakeholders have been carried along in implementing the policy.
