The Ekiti state government has solicited the support of stakeholders in the state towards the prevention and control of diseases to achieve a healthy society.
The commissioner for agriculture and food security, Ebenezer Boluwade, spoke in Ado-Ekiti, the state capital, during the opening of a two-day training tagged ‘One Health Approach’ for veterinary officers, community animal health workers, environmental officers, livestock officers, and disease surveillance and notification officers.
The training was under the World Bank-assisted Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security.
He explained that to achieve food security and a healthy life in society, there is a need for collaboration among animal, health, and environmental professionals to prevent and manage outbreaks of any disease.
Represented by the permanent secretary in the ministry, Olugbenga Odesanmi, the commissioner said building the capacity of the practitioners in the three sectors would ensure the effective well-being of the environment, animals, and the human populace.
He said, “It is a visionary initiative that recognises the intricate links between animal, human, and environmental health. This programme is a testament to our commitment to addressing the complex health challenges that face our state and nation and our determination to work together to address them.
“We believe that by building the capacity of our workforce, we can improve our response to health threats and create a safer, healthier, and more prosperous future for all.
“We gather here as champions in our different fields, united by a shared vision to protect and promote the health of all, acknowledging the critical role health plays in food security, the well-being of the environment, and the human populace.
“We recognise that the health of animals, humans, and the environment is intricately linked and that our collective efforts are necessary to prevent, detect, and respond to health threats.”
The L-PRES state project coordinator, Adedipe Olayinka, noted that the training was necessary to ensure synergy among the stakeholders to ensure healthy animals, human beings, and the environment for effective productivity.
One of the participants from the state Ministry of Environment, Morenikeji Fakunle, commended the government for the training, adding that it would enhance their capacity towards making the state free from outbreaks of diseases and achieving a healthy life for all.
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