Society for Animal Rights Protection Canvasses Urgent Recruitment of Veterinarians in Oyo State
The Society for Animal Rights Protection, SARP, has called on Oyo State government to urgently recruit veterinarians to improve clinical, epidemiological, public health, disease reporting and surveillance in the five zones of the state
SARP is a Non- Governmental Organization established in 2021 with the commitment to the advancement of animal welfare and prevention of animal cruelty in Nigeria through public advocacy, direct physical engagements in workshops, seminars , mass media (including print and electronic media- radio and television, social media)
The Society, through its delegation led by the President, Dr. Ibikunle Faramade on a courtesy visit to the commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, lamented the shortage of veterinarian in Oyo state which had accounted for slow pace of strategic veterinary services across the thirty-three local government areas of the state.
Addressing the Commissioner, SARP president, Dr Ibikunle Faramade explained that engaging the services of more veterinarians would enhance efficiency, productivity and guarantee wholesomeness of the meat consumed by the general public.
Dr. Faramade canvassed the rehabilitation/ reconstruction of veterinary clinics and hospitals across the state, calling for the set up of Animal Welfare Committee under the purview of the Department of Veterinary Services to oversee public health and animal welfare in the state.
Enforcement of Animal welfare protocols are now considered as important aspects of meat inspection and meat quality in advanced countries of the world. Animals that conforms to standard welfare practices are more highly priced than those that are not.”
“Your Honour sir, these steps are necessary in order to achieve the vision of Sustainable Action for Economic Recovery (SaFER) as enunciated by the Executive Governor of Oyo State, especially as it concerns animal health and production subsector of the State’s economy.”
This will enable Oyo State to set a new record of progress for other states of the Federation, as the pace setter state. The machinery to pass animal welfare laws to safeguard animal welfare should be put in place in order to domesticate sections 20, 21, 22 and 23 of the Animal Disease Act (2022), for easy application and enforcement in the state.”
Dr. Faramade commended the efforts of Governor Seyi Makinde on animal disease diagnoses and prevention and control especially the containment of various animal diseases surge in the state.
“Sir, all your efforts on animal disease diagnoses and prevention of animal diseases are in tandem with a few of the five freedoms earlier stated. Freedom from pain, injury and diseases and to some extent, freedom from discomfort. The rabies prevention and control law which was signed in 2021 by our amiable Executive Governor is also in support of freedom from diseases. However, other aspects of freedoms requires more efforts in order to guarantee animal welfare and prevention of animal cruelty in Oyo State.”
We are not unaware of the giant strides of the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency, Engr. Seyi Makinde FNSE, especially, in the area of prevention and control of animal diseases including zoonoses. The effective prevention of occurrence of Anthrax disease in Oyo State comes to mind among other landmark achievements that have been recorded under this administration. The sustenance of Peste de petit Ruminantum (PPR) vaccination in goats and anti-rabies vaccination of dogs are also examples of demonstration of welfare concern for animals by this administration.”
Dr. Faramade hinted the commissioner on the plan by SARP to organize a capacity building training workshop in partnership with the Department of Veterinary Services for butchers.
For example, the manner of animal transportation, especially, food animals, in Oyo State deserves urgent attention by the government. As we speak, there is no definite regulation guarding animal transport in terms of specification of number of animals to be carried by a specified vehicle from one place to the other. Haulage of animals currently expose them to untold stress, fatigue and even death. Our organization has observed that the use of cars (micra), overstocking in mini trucks are major banes of food animal welfare in Oyo State. This is inconsistent with global best practices and urgent steps are necessary to redeem the situation. “
Responding, the commissioner for Agriculture and Rural Development, Barrister Olasunkanmi Olaleye, represented by the Director of Administration and Supplies, Mrs Florence Fatunmibi appreciated the leadership of the Society for Animal Rights Protection for the visit noting that the issue of animal welfare was paramount to the government of Oyo State and it’s willingness to partner all stakeholders to improve on the status quo.
On the issue of employment of veterinary doctors the representative of the commissioner assured that the government is aware of the challenge and that very soon, the employment gap would be done.
She lauded the initiative of SARP on its plan to organize a training workshop for the butchers at the central Abattoir, Amosun, Akinyele Local Government Area, Ibadan assuring them that the ministry was open to partnerships that will benefit the society at large. However, in carrying out the workshop, all relevant stakeholders should be involved so that the program would be successful.
Present at the meeting were senior management staff of both the Department of Veterinary Services and the Department of Animal Husbandry Services, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Oyo State.
