Awka – The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) in Anambra on Friday, called for the establishment of a state health board for prevention, control and management of infectious diseases in the state.
The association’s state Chairman, Dr Damian Uchennabo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka that lack of a health board had led to the lingering cases of Tuberculosis (TB) in the state.
“Efforts being made to eradicate TB in the state are directed mainly toward treatment of infected persons and some efforts on human disease surveillance.
“Human TB and cattle TB which are got from cattle slaughtered and consumed in the state are not given attention,” Uchennabo said.
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He said that if the health board existed, it would help determine the nature and dimension of disease outbreaks and give advice to government for proactive measures to protect human and animal population.
The chairman noted that the board would help proffer sound health policy for the state and save the state government millions of naira spent on the treatment of agriculture associated food-borne pathogens.
He said that the board would have its members drawn from the ministries of health and agriculture at both the federal and state levels, thereby strengthening the synergy between the two ministries. (NAN)
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