Emma Elekwa
Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Anambra State Chapter has called for strengthening intervention measures and surveillance system to effectively address animal to human transmission of tuberculosis in the state.
The body made this call during a public enlightenment campaign at Umunya Slaughter House in Oyi Local Government Area to commemorate 2026 World Tuberculosis Day themed, “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver.
The public enlightenment also featured Radio Sensitization Programme, public enlightenment and Meat Inspection.
Speaking during the enlightenment campaign at Umunya, State Chairman of the association, Dr Victor Ughaerumba emphasized that ending tuberculosis in the state is achievable through sustained government investment.
He specifically certified the slaughter house suitable for construction of an ultra modern abattoir with well structured facilities, calling for development of functional veterinary diagnostic centres for accurate ante mortem and post mortem diagnosis.
While supervising an inspection of slaughtered cow, Ughaerumba called for more awareness on the disease and prompt report of presumptive cases for immediate attention.
“We have looked at the major internal organs, lungs, kidneys, heart and intestines. We feel at this point that this particular carcass is okay for consumption.
Need for laboratories
“But again, we are also calling on the government if we have laboratories, we could go for further testing. We can decide to take some samples for laboratory checks.
“So that we might not be missing out some human errors in whatever we are doing, that is going forward for a better, safer, and a greater public health in Anambra”
In their separate remarks, some members of the association, Dr Obi Nwogu and Dr Christian Ilozue underscored the urgency of awareness, preventing mode of transmission from animal to human, highlighting the need for vigilance and increased action to stamp out the disease.
They noted that the enlightenment campaign was necessary to educate butchers and public about what they need to know about detection and control of the disease in slaughtered animals.
Acknowledging the need for integrated control services, proper regulations and regular meat inspection before consumption for early detection of tuberculosis, they described the disease as chronic and highly infectious through air, meat and milk.
Dr llozue noted that tuberculosis can affect parts of the body other than the lungs and may always present with persistent cough, urging the butchers to discard affected animal parts when detected for public safety.
Chairman of Onyeaghananwanneya Butchers Association, Umunya, Mr Chinwuba Uba, appreciated the association for the campaign which he described as life saving, adding that issues around meat safety was important for every human.
He noted that meat safety could not be overlooked, assuring to abide by standard hygienic ways of meat processing and handling in the slaughter house.
One of the butchers, Chief Chidiebere Nwankwo pledged to utilize knowledge gaine
