The Economic Secretary to the Treasury, John Glen’s speech at the Association of Financial Markets in Europe.

By Felicia Imohimi

A veterinary doctor, Bala Muhammed, has urged the Federal government to establish veterinary laboratories for disease investigation in all abattoirs across the country to ensure effective diseases surveillance and public health service.

Muhammed, who is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Blueblood Veterinary Service, a Nongovernmental Organisation (NGO) made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Abuja.

He described no availability of laboratories in abattoirs as major challenge to veterinarians and public health scientists.

According to him, viable laboratory is required in abattoirs to nip in the bud zoonotic diseases threatening public health in the country.

“For our work to make the right impact in abattoirs we need laboratory services to stay ahead of animal-to-man transmission of diseases.

“We need to install viable laboratories in our abattoirs for accurate and timely diagnosis of zoonotic disease.

“We need empirical evidence to proceed with diagnosis and treatment, not to depend on physical examination of animals before slaughter.

“Priority should also be given to setting up of standard veterinary laboratories across the country in order to stay ahead of infectious diseases particularly zoonotic diseases.

“The only way to achieve this is thorough examination of animals and animal products for food in a viable laboratory before passing them for human consumption.

“Therefore, it is strategic that we install laboratories in abattoirs for effective public health services,”  Muhammed said.(NAN)