As part of the federal government’s efforts to control and eradicate Peste Des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in Nigeria, over 12.5 million doses of PPR vaccine have been procured and deployed for vaccination campaigns.
Speaking during the third PPR Roadmap and Blueprint Meeting for West Africa Countries, held in Abuja recently, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Dr. Aliyu Abdullahi, revealed this just as it warned that, PPR also known as sheep and goat plague, is a highly contagious viral disease that affects small ruminants causing significant economic losses and threatening the livelihoods of millions of rural families in West Africa.
He pointed out that “it is on record that since the inception of the PPR Global Eradication Programme, “the Ministry has developed a PPR Strategy for the control and eradication in Nigeria, national-wide socio economic impact assessment and prevalence studies has been carried and in recent time efforts to control and eradicate Peste Des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in Nigeria, over 12.5 million doses of PPR vaccine have been procured and deployed to the field for vaccination campaigns,” he said.
Also in a bid to improve the livestock sub-sector as a means of fostering economic growth, food security and to enhance the livelihood of all Nigerians, FG in collaboration with its development partners in the Livestock industry has strategized for the control and eradication of Peste Des Petits Ruminants (PPR) in Nigeria.
He noted that the impact of PPR extends beyond animal health, affecting food security, economic stability, and the overall well-being of our communities and the most vulnerable in society.
The ninister pointed out that the production, trade, and marketing of sheep and goats were seriously constrained by the continuous presence of PPR, which limits its productivity and access to markets.
He stressed that the eradication of PPR and other trans-boundary Animal Diseases (TADs) is a critical component of the present Administration, adding that eliminating the disease will not only protect the livestock sector but will also empower the rural communities and contribute to the nation’s economic resilience.
According to him, laboratory diagnostic capacity had been enhanced; stressing that Nigeria in the coming years would ensure animal vaccination of 75% of sheep and goats against PPR.
