The Director of Veterinary Services in Kaduna State has called for stronger collaboration among veterinarians to boost animal health, enhance food security, and protect public health.
Pakachi stated this on Saturday at an event organized by the Kaduna State chapter of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) to commemorate the 2025 World Veterinary Day, with the theme: “Animal Health Takes Teamwork.”
He said collaboration among veterinarians was crucial to controlling zoonotic diseases, improving livestock productivity, and ensuring the safety of animal-derived foods.
“Veterinarians ensure healthier livestock, leading to better yields in meat, milk, and eggs, which directly support nutrition and the economy,” he said.
Pakachi also highlighted the dedication of veterinarians, noting that many continued to deliver services in remote and insecure areas despite personal risks.
Earlier, Dr Maruf Lawal, Chairman of the NVMA Kaduna chapter, said the event marked the chapter’s first major public engagement since its revival on April 4.
He said the association, dormant since 2014, was revived with teamwork as its guiding principle to overcome past challenges and build a stronger professional body.
“We chose to focus on teamwork because veterinary practice needs all specialties surgeons, clinicians, and imaging experts working together to deliver better outcomes for animal and human health,” he said.
Lawal likened teamwork in veterinary practice to two horses pulling far more weight together than individually, saying, “Collaboration multiplies impact.”
He urged veterinarians across the state to embrace the spirit of teamwork to strengthen disease surveillance, improve animal welfare, and prevent zoonotic disease transmission.
The keynote speaker, Dr. Mohammed Shehu, a retired Federal Service Director, stressed the importance of involving all stakeholders, including livestock farmers, animal scientists, and veterinary input providers, to advance Nigeria’s livestock sector.
He said reaching rural livestock communities was critical to disease prevention and public health, and called for closer cooperation between veterinarians and medical doctors to tackle zoonotic diseases.
The World Veterinary Day is celebrated globally on the last Saturday of April.(NAN)
