By: Monday Danladi, Bauchi
Bauchi State Governor, Sen Bala Mohammed has disclosed that Twenty-three rabies cases were recorded in the state in 2024 out of the 200 dog bites that occurred in the State in 2024 across the State.
The Governor therefore declared that Government has procured a total of 10,000 doses of anti-rabies vaccines to fight the disease across the state.
The Governor was speaking in Itas, headquarters of Itas/Gadau local government area while flagging off the 2025 annual Livestock vaccination campaign.
According to him, “Considering the deadly nature of rabies which is zoonotic disease transmitted through dog bite by unvaccinated dog, the state government has purchased 10,000 doses of anti-rabies vaccines and distributed them to all the veterinary clinics across the 20 local government areas to curb the escalation of the disease.”
The Governor called on the people that are keeping dogs as pets, for hunting or for security reasons to take the animals to the nearest veterinary hospital for vaccination free of charge.
He further disclosed that the state government has earmarked the sum of N8.9 million for the 2025 annual Livestock vaccination.
Bala Mohammed noted that the vaccination campaign has been prioritized towards fighting diseases such as contagious bovine Pneumonia, CPP and Cattle Peste des petits ruminants (PPR) for Sheep and Goats, and Newcastle disease for poultry.
The Governor disclosed that the sum of N80.9 million have been budgeted to conduct the bi-annual livestock vaccination campaign with an initial release of N40 million.
“For this round of vaccination campaign, the total of 1 million herds of cattle, 500 sheep and goats as well as 500 poultry are targeted to be vaccinated across the state”, the Governor said.
Bala Mohammed who pledged the commitment of his administration to providing additional vaccines if the need arises, assured that the government will continue to work tirelessly towards a healthy livestock population in Bauchi state.
While appreciating the important role of veterinary sector in public health, preventive medicine and food security safety, among others, the Governor noted that the veterinary sector has played vital role in the control of emerging cases of diseases most of which he said are zoonotic in nature.
He also said, to strengthen the role of veterinary profession in the livestock value chain, Bauchi state government has keyed into the World Bank assisted Livestock Productivity, Resilient Support project which is aimed at transforming the livestock sector.
Bala Mohammed further disclosed that Livestock Productivity, Resilient Support Project has conducted training for the combination of 100 veterinary and herdsmen health officers on disease monitoring and investigation.
Others included 100 livestock farmers on the usage of crop residues as livestock feeds during the off-season, 80 pastoralists, women on milk hygiene and collection to ensure products would be packaged in a manner that is healthy.
Bala Mohammed added that the project will also renovate and construct slaughter houses and veterinary clinics in 14 local governments, rehabilitate laboratories and other facilities in 10 local government areas including the establishment of farmers school and the school of Agriculture.