With the recent call against Major Killer Diseases in the country, The Billital Maroobe Pastoralists Association of Nigeria (BILMPAN) has started the process of deworming and livestock vaccination of 15,000 cattle in Kebbi State.
The National President, Alhaji Ali Muhammad-Rimindako, made this known while speaking at the
launch of the exercise at the Ministry of Animal Health, Husbandry and Fisheries, Birnin Kebbi, emphasized that the essence of the programme was to assist the pastoralists.
The
programme was tagged with a theme: Official Launching of a Project for
Assistance to Pastoral Families Faced with Cumulative effects of Pastoral Lean
Season, Insecurity, and COVID-19 Pandemic (PAS2P) in Kebbi State.
The
programme was being carried out with the support of international donor
agencies such as DDC and RBM.
Muhammad-Rimindako
said that the programme would also feature the disbursement of small animals to
pastoralists to enable them to continue with their businesses.
He
said about 500 sheep would be distributed in the first phase of the programme
to give pastoralists a sense of belonging.
The
President noted with satisfaction that the programme was gender-balanced,
saying that the small animals comprising sheep and goat would be given to
female pastoralists.
“This
is because small animals used to give birth more frequently than cattle and the
female folk usually remain at home taking care of children,” he said.
Muhammad-Rimindako
said that apart from the animals donated, the association also disbursed rice,
maize, millet, cooking oil, and animal feed as palliatives to its members.
The
president added that the exercise would continue in different parts of the
country, especially, in states with clusters of pastoralists.
He
said: “We have launched this programme to assist pastoralists, especially,
those affected in different aspects of their businesses coupled with the
outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic that caused a global economic downturn.
“We
have already started the vaccination of cattle and other livestock yesterday
but today we are witnessing the formal launch’’, he saud.
He
explained that the vaccination was meant to assist the pastoralists because
many of them could not afford to treat their animals due to their financial
predicaments.
“We
have visited many places here in Kebbi; we thank God Almighty and during the
visit, aside from vaccination, animal drugs were also given free-of-charge.
“We
have chosen Kebbi State to host the launch of this programme due to its
importance and it will be extended to different parts of the country in the
next 18 months.”
Muhammad-Rimindako
appealed to the beneficiaries to make judicious use of the items to transform
their livelihood.
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