In a bid to ensure food safety in our nation, veterinarians have been charged on the need to pay serious attention and adopt a coordinated approach towards the control of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) challenge. The Managing Director, Turner Wright Limited, Dr. Waheed Lawal gave the charge while delivering his keynote address with the topic: ‘Evolving Roles of Veterinarians in Enhancing Global Food Security’ at the 14th Oath-Taking and Induction Ceremony of the College of Veterinary Medicine (COLVET), held in Abeokuta, Ogun State.
While he described AMR as a global threat and becoming an increasing concern to ensuring animal health and disease control, he added that “it is a waiting time bomb that they must defuse”. Dr. Lawal, who is also a veterinary doctor, said the role of veterinarians had traditionally extended from the farm to the slaughterhouse, where veterinarians have a deal responsibility – epidemiological surveillance of animal diseases and ensuring the safety and suitability of meat. He stated that education and training of veterinarians, which includes both animal health and food hygiene components make them uniquely equipped to play a central role in ensuring food safety, especially the safety of foods of animal origin.
He said through their presence on farms and appropriate collaboration with farmers, veterinary services play a key role in ensuring that animals are kept under hygienic conditions and in the early detection surveillance and treatment of animal diseases, including condition of public health significance. The MD of TWL, however, disclosed that for veterinarians to effectively fit into the food security value chain “there are some factors they must not be ignorant of which are globalisation, technology, regulatory issues and risk assessment management”.
Reeling out some helpful successful tips for the new graduates, he said it’s important for them to know that a certificate only qualifies them for a job but it’s their competence and skill that would keep them on the job. He advised them to do everything with passion, ready to burn bridges, stay disciplined and plan accordingly. While the President, Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association, Dr. Catherine Adetuberu said the profession is the number one public health specialist, stressing that if animals are not healthy, human beings cannot be healthy. She urged them to be more alive to their responsibility and not to disappoint the nation and their profession anywhere they find themselves.
Meanwhile, it has been observed he comportment of Veterinary Medical Practitioners must reflect and exude nobility in their profession as care-givers and major stakeholders in food security. The Vice-Chancellor made this known while speaking at the 14th Oath-Taking and Induction Ceremony of the vet doctors. He said in view of the fact that Veterinary Medicine is a noble profession, it is expected and expedient for budding Veterinarians to have a great sense of responsibility in all their activities. He explained that in order for the Institution to promote and ensure impartation of sound academic and professional training to its Veterinarians, the management of the University has been magnanimous in equipping and furnishing four laboratories at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the Institution with high technology equipment.
Prof. Kehinde stressed that the management has paid high premium to the development of the College of Veterinary Medicine because of the highly valued role Veterinarians are expected to play in the society, adding that the management, staff and students of the University are excited and rejoice with the inductees, parents and guardians for their efforts at making the event a reality. The Acting Registrar, Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN), Dr. Nurullah Abubakar commended the efforts of the University in the training of Veterinary doctors in Nigeria, adding that the University has produced some of the best brains in the Veterinary profession in the country who had and are still making waves in delivery of quality service.
The Acting Registrar appreciated the Vice-Chancellor and his entire management team for the support accorded COLVET, noting that the Veterinary Professional regulatory body thanked Prof. Kehinde for equipping the VTH with state-of-the-art functional equipment like the x-ray and scanning machine for diagnostic purposes, elegant furnishings of the microbiology laboratories and provision of two brand new vehicles for ambulatory purpose. Dr. Abubakar, however, reiterated that the Council would continue to support and collaborate with all Veterinary Faculties and Colleges in Nigeria in providing enabling environment towards achieving and maintaining qualitative students training aimed at ensuring competence and maintenance of international best practices.
Going by earlier submission that AMR remains a global threat and becoming an increasing concern to ensuring animal health and disease control. Hence, the role of veterinary doctors should be traditionally extended from the farm to the slaughterhouse, where veterinarians have a deal responsibility while epidemiological surveillance of animal diseases and ensuring the safety and suitability of meat is key. Hence, the state that education and training of veterinarians, which includes both animal health and food hygiene components should be empowered to make them uniquely equipped to play a central role in ensuring food safety, especially the safety of foods of animal origin in Nigeria and even beyond.
