FG UNVEILS PLAN AGAINST ZOONOTIC DISEASE. (PHOTO).

FG unveils plan against Zoonotic Disease

federal government has cautioned Nigerians against the risk posed by zoonotic disease and to embrace a healthy lifestyle for the sustainable development of the country.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Development, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, stated this in Abuja when he met with members of the National One Health Steering Committee in Abuja.

According to the Minister, the increasing interest in capturing and consuming bats, particularly people from Benue and neighbouring states, portends a danger to the health of other Nigerians.

The Minister said the meeting and joint risk assessment provided leadership for early prevention and resolution of the public health crisis using a One Health approach.

Mr. Pate stressed the need for the steering committee to tighten its mandates on the potential spread of zoonotic diseases from fruit bats and other sources and efforts to safeguard Nigerians’ health and welfare. The committee should also offer policy recommendations based on research conducted on One Health priority pathogens and, in addition to that, strengthen efforts to implement One Health in Nigeria.

The Minister agreed that the joint risk assessment team’s recommendations included mapping all states that engage in bat hunting, handling, processing, and consumption of fruit bats; carrying out a serological study on bats and target groups in these chosen locations (mapped states); and launching a significant awareness-raising campaign regarding the risks posed by bats.

Dr. Oyeladun Okunromade, Head of the Surveillance and Epidemiology Department at the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, emphasized the risks associated with the growing number of human-fruit bat contacts.

She suggested enhancing surveillance, carrying out additional studies on the behaviour of bats and viruses, and increasing awareness among groups that participate in bat-related activities.

At the meeting, recommendations were also made for more research that will reflect the actual epidemiology of the viruses, mitigation of the risk of potential spillover of pathogenic viruses to humans, and continuous surveillance of bats and humans (human-animal interface).

Also, Dr. Clement Meseko from the National Veterinary Research Institute (NNVI), Plateau State, commended the federal government for supporting the One Health Steering Committee, particularly its actions and research on human interactions with fruit bats.

Representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), Ministry of Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, and other partner agencies were involved in the research and risk assessment, which made it easier to understand and formulate action plans with the support of the Federal Ministry of Health against the zoonotic disease.