Emmanuel Oluwakorede, Lokoja
Kogi State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project L-PRES has engaged relevant stakeholders in the Health, Environment and Agriculture Sectors in one health platform.
One Health is a collaborative, multi-sectoral approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.
Speaking at the stakeholders engagement organized Kogi L-PRES in partnership with the Ministry of Livestock Development in Lokoja, the Commissioner of the Ministry, Dr. Olufemi Bolarin noted that the engagement meeting was to strengthen the one health platform in the state.
Represented by the Director Administration, Mr. Akubo Charles, the Commissioner described the meeting as timely, coming at the time that the state is confronting the increasingly complex public health challenges such as Zoonotic diseases, environmental threats, and antimicrobial resistance.
“This meeting is both timely and significant. As we confront the increasingly complex public health challenges of our time including Zoonotic diseases, environmental threats, antimicrobial resistance.
According to him, the importance of one health platform, a collaborative multi-sectorial approach cannot be overemphasized.
“The One-Health approach which integrate the efforts of veterinary officials, medical doctors, environmental health professional, represents a visionary pathway to a healthier safe and more resilient society.
“Your presence here today is a testament to your shared commitment to safeguarding the health of humans, animals and our environment. It is also a recognition that no single discipline can succeed in isolation: our strength lies in unity collaboration and mutual respect.
On his part, the State Project Coordinator of L-PRES, Mr. Otaru Abdulkabir Onoruoyiza, represented by the Animal Husbandry Officer, Oloninisi Adeniyi pointed out that supporting the one health platform is a mandate of the project.
“The L-PRES project has it in its documents (PAD and PIM) to support the implementation One Health activities which is a very important aspect of the Animal Health Subcomponent of the project in line with addressing the Project Development Objectives (PDO) which is to improve Productivity, Commercialization and Resilience of targeted livestock production systems and to strengthen the country’s capacity to respond to an eligible crisis or emergency in Nigeria, he explained.
He stated that while the platform will enhance the overall wellbeing of both humans and animals, it will increase livelihood of livestock farmers and build resilience for improved food security.
“Enhance the overall health and well-being of both the people and animals in Kogi State. It will also reduce the economic burden of health challenges on individuals, families, communities as well as health challenges in livestock thereby increasing livelihood of livestock farmers and building resilience thereby promoting food security.
The State Project Coordinator urged the stakeholders to work together to ensure the State record success on the one health platform.
“I want to enjoin us to work together to strengthen the One Health platform in Kogi State. I believe that with our collective efforts, we can achieve significant improvements in healthcare delivery and livestock productivity, ultimately enhancing the lives of the people of Kogi State.
