Nigeria Advances Efforts To Combat Small Ruminant Diseases

 

The Federal Ministry of Livestock Development convened a two-day meeting in Abuja to assess and address Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR), a viral disease affecting sheep and goats, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen livestock health and productivity.

Speaking at the Global Burden of Animal Diseases (GBADs) meeting, the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria (CVON) and Director of Veterinary Public Health and Epidemiology, Dr. Samuel Anzaku, highlighted the importance of evidence-based approaches to disease control.

“This meeting provides an opportunity to evaluate the burden of animal diseases in Nigeria. By establishing reliable databases, we can guide targeted interventions and inform government planning,” Dr. Anzaku said in a statement on Wednesday.

He added that while field studies will follow, this national assessment lays a strong foundation for tackling PPR and other transboundary livestock diseases.

Director of Veterinary Medicine and National Focal Person for PPR, Dr. Patience Tomoh, stressed the need for comprehensive baseline data, covering the economic value of small ruminants, losses from diseases, and current expenditure on disease management. She noted that PPR has significant effects on smallholder livelihoods, food security, and livestock trade.

In her presentation, the Nigeria Case Study Lead at Lancaster University, Dr. Gemma Chaters, explained that her team is providing technical support in applying the Global Burden of Animal Disease framework to estimate health losses in Nigeria’s small ruminant population. 

“Understanding the full impact of PPR on livelihoods and the economy is essential. The meeting will provide the data needed for evidence-based control programs and to prioritise areas with the highest disease burden,” she said.