nonagenarian and the Esogban of Benin, Chief David Edebiri, has expressed dissatisfaction with the relegation of veterinary medicine practice in the country and called for recognition of the profession.
Edebiri made the call when members of the Nigeria Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) paid him a courtesy call ahead of the association’s national convention, slated for Benin from Oct. 25 to Oct. 29.
Edebiri has been designated as the chairman of the 57th annual convention of the association with the theme “The Veterinarian and Global Health Security.”
He noted that there was a correlation between animals and humans in terms of spread of diseases, hence the need for due recognition to be accorded veterinary medicine practice.
“We consume or keep as pets animals brought from different parts of the world yet, there is no form of regulation to check if these animals are fit for consumption or to be kept as pet.
“Government should give due recognition, more roles and responsibilities to the professionals in this field. With this, we will be able to curb the spread of diseases.
“I will support and encourage everyone to give veterinary medicine practice more visibility,” he said
Mr Michael Ehizokhale, Chairman, Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the event, said the convention is to seek a better understanding of the correlation between animal health and human health.
He said the world would be free of human diseases when the spread of animal diseases are stopped.
“The convention is for people to wake up to the critical role veterinarians have to play in the health security of the nation and indeed the world.
“If animal diseases are stopped, people will have no reason to fear; they will live freely because diseases affecting animals directly are transmissible to humans,” he said.
Ehizokhale said that all is now set for the convention which will take place in Edo for the first time since 1983 when it was last held under the then Bendel State.
Nonagenarian bemoans relegation of veterinary medicine practice
