NAAHHT seeks stakeholders’ collaboration in fight against EVD

Members of the Nigerian Association of Animal Health and Husbandry Technologists (NAAHHT) have called for collaboration among stakeholders in the animal health, livestock development, food security and national public health on emerging public health concerns associated with Ebola Virus Disease (EVD).

Rising from its Natioanal Executive Council meeting at the Medical and Health Workers Union of Nigeria (MHWUN) headquarters in Abuja, NAAHHT expressed its commitment to contributing to national value through professional and public health advocacy.

NAAHHT, in a communique signed by the national president, Kazeem Akingboye, and general secretary, Dauda Yahaya, at the end of its NEC meeting, noted that Ebola Virus Disease is a severe and often fatal illness affecting humans and some animal species. The disease is transmitted through direct contact with the blood, body fluids, tissues, or contaminated materials from infected persons or animals.

Given the close relationship between animal health, environmental health, and human health, NAAHHT emphasised the importance of the One Health Approach, which promotes collaboration among veterinary, animal health, medical, environmental, and public health professionals in preventing and controlling zoonotic diseases.

The NEC resolved that future meetings of the association would continue to include public health enlightenment and national development issues as part of its corporate social responsibility. This initiative is intended to promote public awareness, strengthen disease prevention efforts, and contribute to the health and wellbeing of Nigerians.

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The association called on government agencies, development partners, livestock stakeholders, and the general public to support integrated disease surveillance and response mechanisms in line with global best practices.

It also called on the public to maintain proper hand hygiene by washing hands regularly with soap and clean water, avoid contact with blood, body fluids or tissues of sick individuals and animals, and refrain from handling or consuming animals found dead in forests or other locations.

Members of the public were also advised to ensure proper cooking of meat and animal products before consumption; report unusual sicknesses or deaths in animals to relevant animal health authorities; seek immediate medical attention when symptoms such as sudden fever, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea, or unexplained bleeding occur; avoid spreading unverified information capable of causing panic within communities and cooperate with public health authorities during disease surveillance and outbreak response activities.