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- Says innovative and technological investments would upscale food production
By Bianca Iboma-Emefu
The President of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Dr Moses Arokoyo, has expressed concern over the exclusion of veterinary practices from federal government funding, warning of potential health risks.
Dr Arokoyo, speaking at the launch of the “SmartDVM” app in Lagos, highlighted the growing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which is predicted to claim 10 million lives annually by 2050. He stressed that the recent exclusion of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) from national health regulators is ill-advised and poses a significant public health risk to Nigeria’s over 200 million citizens.
“75% of emerging and re-emerging human diseases originate from animals, making zoonoses a global focal point,” Dr Arokoyo stated. He argued that veterinarians play a crucial role in preventing the spread of diseases from animals to humans and should be included in funding efforts to address these risks.
Dr Arokoyo expressed concern that the government’s decision could undermine the veterinary community’s efforts in combating the use of fake drugs in animals, disregarding withdrawal times. “It also means increased consumption of meat laden with drug residues by the human population, leading to increased incidence of cancer cases, as well as antimicrobial resistance and ultimately increased deaths,” he explained.
He emphasized that in the global context of public health, Nigeria cannot afford to disregard the One-Health approach, which recognizes the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health. Dr. Arokoyo cited the example of the last Anthrax outbreak, highlighting the critical role played by the Veterinary Council in early detection and prompt response, preventing the further spread of the zoonotic disease.
Dr Arokoyo advised that the VCN be included among the national health regulators considered for funding to safeguard public health.
On her part, President of the VCN, AIG Aisha Abubakar Baju, echoed the importance of the One Health approach, arguing that excluding veterinary practices from funding creates a significant gap in addressing the potential risks and consequences of zoonotic diseases.
“Investing in veterinary practices and preventative measures can ultimately save costs in the long run by preventing outbreaks of diseases that can have significant public health and economic implications,” Baju stated. She urged the federal government to reconsider their decision and recognize the important role that veterinary practices play in promoting and protecting public health.
Baju expressed her delight over the launch of the SmartDVM app, stating that it was for effective service delivery and would help in fighting quacks in the veterinary space. She added that the launch of the SmartDVM is truly complementary to what the council is doing to ensure that veterinary practice is completely digitized.
Baju emphasized that the government’s decision to stop funding the VCN is a big challenge. “We are still on the discussion table with the government so they can see reason between animal health and human health. A lot of diseases emerge and are contracted from animals. The COVID we were talking about affected globally and originated from animals.”
She also tasked governments at all levels and stakeholders to drive the agricultural sector with innovative and technological investments to upscale food production and boost food security.
“You cannot ignore animal health because if we do, you are equally ignoring human health. One health initiative. The animals, humans, and environment are vital, government needs to understand this for us. So they need to return funding of the council for effective service delivery,” Baju stated. She encouraged Nigerians to take advantage of the digital innovation for effective service delivery.
Meanwhile, the CEO of the SmartDVM initiative, Dr Olayinka Adeyanju, said that the SmartDVM is a technological company that works with veterinarians and veterinary practices. SmartDVM is a comprehensive software solution that encompasses everything from electronic patient care records to complete practice management.
Adeyanju stated that SmartDVM is where innovation meets compassion in the world of veterinary management. It is tailored to meet your unique needs. Our commitment is to empower you with solutions that redefine efficiency and elevate the quality of care for your furry patients.
“SmartDVM Software can enhance efficiency, optimize workflows, and elevate your practice management skills. We use technology to digitalize operations in the practice. There is a lot of manual task that goes on in the practices, especially in Nigeria. Our goal is basically to make sure that we have a solution that addresses every challenge in the veterinary space. We have so many programmes that come with the practice itself.”
“Investing in the veterinary space is not an easy task. Most Nigerian veterinarians know the cost of acquiring a system is not that easy. We can’t capitalize on it financially, but it’s a long run. We see the future. It’s going to change with time. We are looking on what we can do to improve delivery and with investment, we create a standard that all other veterinary practices can follow.”
“SmartDVM has economic values as veterinarians would benefit from the system. It is focusing more on small animal practice. This has to do with private practice. It would help in administrative overload that a lot of veterinarians face. It would help them to be smarter, the process is faster. It would equally help them financially. Most Veterinary practitioners don’t talk about tech and most of them who graduated from the university can take advantage of tech and develop themselves.”
