Bauchi govt spends N30m on animal vaccination

More than N30 million has been spent by  Bauchi State Government on the vaccination of 1.7 million cows in 2012. This was disclosed by Dr Bala Musa, the Director, Veterinary in the state Ministry for Animal Health and Nomadic Settlement.

“In the 2011/2012 vaccination period, we spent a little more than N30 million on vaccines, equipment, and personnel allowances; and we actually covered the 20 local government areas of the state.

“We vaccinated more than 1.7 million cattle; this year, we are targeting the same figure and even more. But you see this year, we are starting late again because we just received our allocation from the treasury in December and even now we have not gotten one-third of the vaccines we need.

*Cattle

He added that  they are however putting pressure on the National Veterinary Research Institute in Vom that has promised to  deliver.

According to Musa, the state government has budgeted N45 million for the vaccination of 2.5 million cows in 2013. “This year, we applied for N45 million because there is increase in personnel allowances; so, we are also increasing some of the equipment especially cool chain facilities because we are going deeper into the dry season.

“We hope may be by the end of next week, by the grace of God, we will launch the vaccination. We targeted 2.5 million of cattle, but considering the time, we will do our best, but this is our target, because this is the estimated figure of livestock in the state.

Bala Musa  added “This year, we are vaccinating against Contagious Bovine Pleuropneumonia (CBPP) in cattle and this year we introduced Black Leg vaccines for cattle also.

“Then in sheep, we have PPR (Pestedes Petit Ruminants), which is a major hindrance to development of small ruminants in the whole of Nigeria and West Africa and even beyond. Then in poultry, we are vaccinating against Infectious Bursal Disease and the New Cattle Disease, these are the diseases we are going to vaccinates against this year.

“The state personnel alone cannot handle this; that is why we are working with the local government staff; so any local government we are working with, we have a minimum of ten from the state and ten from the local government.”