…Unveils Plans for Three New Veterinary Hospitals, Rehabilitation of Three Others

 

…Agric Commissioner Commends Gov Inuwa’s Investment in Livestock, Highlights Progress in Animal Healthcare Delivery

 

In a renewed push to enhance veterinary services and support livestock productivity, the Gombe State Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project has procured and officially handed over state-of-the-art equipment to the government for deployment across six upgraded veterinary clinics statewide.

 

The intervention targets six veterinary clinics recently upgraded to hospital status by Gombe L-PRES Project towards improving diagnosis and treatment of animal diseases, while also safeguarding public health under the One Health initiative.

 

Speaking at the brief handover ceremony, the State Coordinator of Gombe L-PRES, Professor Usman Bello Abubakar, said the donated equipment includes scanning machines for animal diagnosis, obstetrics kits, post-mortem kits, surgical kits, mouth gags, and tag applicators, among other tools essential for modern veterinary practice.

 

He added that the L-PRES Project has made provisions in its 2027 work plan for the renovation of an additional three veterinary hospitals and the construction of three new ones, as part of efforts to further boost livestock development in the state.

 

Professor Abubakar emphasised that improving animal health is directly linked to human wellbeing, particularly in the fight against zoonotic diseases.

 

“When you treat animals, you are also treating humans. This is just a starting point,” he said, noting that the L-PRES Project has already completed three years of its six-year lifespan.

 

He commended the administration of Governor Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for providing the enabling environment that made the intervention possible, describing it as the first of its kind in the state.

 

The State Coordinator further revealed that Gombe is currently leading among the 20 participating states under the L-PRES programme, ranking second in accountability, procurement, quality, and project implementation, with optimism that the state will emerge as the top performer within the next year.

 

In his remarks, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, Dr. Barnabas Musa Malle, highlighted key achievements of the state government in improving animal healthcare, particularly the upgrade of veterinary clinics to hospital status.

 

He said the World Bank L-PRES Country Director and his team, who recently visited the state, closely supervised livestock development activities and commended Gombe for its commitment to sustaining progress in the sector.

According to him, the newly donated equipment represents the first time such sophisticated tools will be deployed in the state for animal diagnosis and treatment.

 

“This is an indication that His Excellency the Governor is not only concerned with human health but also animal health because of their direct relationship,” the commissioner said.

 

He, however, cautioned livestock officers to handle the equipment with care, noting that it will play a critical role in ensuring the wellbeing of animals in the six upgraded facilities.

 

The commissioner also pledged to personally monitor the use of the equipment to ensure accountability and effectiveness.

 

He expressed appreciation to the L-PRES Project for the intervention, describing it as a major boost to the livestock sector, and noted that both the ministry and the state government are grateful for the support.

 

While assuring proper utilisation of the equipment, the Director of Livestock Services at the Ministry of Agriculture, Yusuf Mahdi, called on L-PRES to support the provision of skilled personnel to operate the equipment, noting that the directorate is currently facing a shortage of professionals.

 

The newly renovated and upgraded veterinary hospitals set to benefit from the donation are located in Gombe, Nafada, Talasse, Dukku, Bajoga, and Kaltungo.

 

Highlights of the event included the symbolic handover of selected equipment to the Commissioner of Agriculture Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives, marking the formal transfer and commencement of their deployment.