On shortage of veterinary doctors in Katsina

We will like to draw the attention of the Katsina government to the shortage of veterinary doctors and other supporting staff in the state. Our findings have shown that there is acute shortage of veterinarians and other supporting staff to man the affairs of veterinary activities such as meat inspection, surveillance and monitoring of animal […]

We will like to draw the attention of the Katsina government to the shortage of veterinary doctors and other supporting staff in the state.

Our findings have shown that there is acute shortage of veterinarians and other supporting staff to man the affairs of veterinary activities such as meat inspection, surveillance and monitoring of animal diseases outbreak and at the same time discharge hospital/clinical duties in the 34 local government areas of the state.

This is in spite of the many qualified indigenous veterinarians and other relevant supporting staff who are unemployed in the state.

The number of unemployed veterinarians can comfortably fill all the vacancies across the 34 local governments of the state. Employing sufficient veterinarians could significantly help in reducing exposure to diseases such as tuberculosis, brucellosis, rabies, influenza etc as most human diseases are from animals.

It is worrying that many local government areas in the state don’t have even a single doctor/veterinary surgeon, but are left with quacks parading themselves as veterinary doctors.  In view of the above, the Funtua Consultative Forum wishes to call on the Katsina State government to employ more doctors and other supporting staff in order to ensure public health and safety. It will also help in ensuring animals’ health/hygienic animal products (e.g meat, milk, eggs etc). The step will further enhance animal production throughout the state.

Shehu Abdullahi is the Assistant Publicity Secretary,  Funtua Consultative Forum