By: KEHINDE AKINPELU ILORIN.
Professor Raji, a veterinary microbiologist and molecular biology professor at the University of Ilorin, has called for severe sanctions against the manufacturers and circulation of counterfeit and substandard veterinary products to guard against the spread of livestock diseases.
Professor Raji made this known while delivering the 307th inaugural lecture of the University, Themes. “Microbes: lnvisible Enemies of Humans and Livestock,” he said, the prescription and administration of restricted veterinary medicines should remain the exclusive responsibility of licensed veterinary practitioners to promote responsible antimicrobial stewardship.
He stressed the importance of regulatory agencies to intensify the enforcement of laws governing the production, importation, distribution, sale, and use of veterinary drugs and medicines.
The inaugural lecturer, from the Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, remarked that the government, livestock producers, and livestock market associations should enforce strict hygiene, sanitation, and biosecurity standards throughout the production chains.
He further called on slaughterhouse operators to implement modern slaughterhouse standards, reliable water, effective waste disposal systems, routine inspection, and strict compliance with food safety regulations, which are essential to reduce food- borne diseases and safeguard public health.
While calling for the strengthening of the National disease surveillance and diagnostic capacity, Raji urged the federal, state and local governments, in partnership with the private sector, to invest substantially in modern diagnostic laboratories and an integrated disease surveillance system.
He noted that a coordinated national surveillance programme be established and sustained to monitor disease incidence, identify epidemiological risk factors, monitor seasonal disease trends and provide real-time surveillance of antimicrobial resistance to enable rapid public health interventions.
Professor further stressed the importance of institutionalized inter-sectoral collaborations between the Federal ministries of Agriculture, Food Security, Health, Center for disease control and prevention, Agency for food and drug administration and control and Veterinary teaching hospitals on informations sharing for effective disease surveillance, outbreak investigation, and coordinated emergency response. He added.
