By Akinjide Adebowale and Sodik Kamiludeen
The Association of Veterinary Medical Students (AVMS), University of Ibadan held her annual public lecture on Wednesday. The public lecture was titled: “VETERINARIANS: Protecting the Health of Animals and Humans for National Development.
The President of AVMS, Mr Olaoluwa, while giving the welcome address, explained that the annual public lecture was instituted to x-ray various subjects affecting the veterinary medicine profession.
Prof. Christian Happi, who spoke at the event expounded on how genomic revolution has improved the field of medicine and how it has helped in solving problems in animals through the collection of genomics data.
He said genomic data helped in the containment of the Ebola virus in Nigeria in just 93 days. “In 2014, during the outbreak of Ebola virus, genomic sequencing was used to curb its transmission. With the advancement of technology in genomic data, we would soon be able to predict a disease that was not diagnosed in Nigeria in the next twenty-seven years.” He explained.
Dr Ladipo Abiodun spoke on government policies surrounding veterinary practice and animal health in Oyo State. He gave insights into the plans of the Oyo State government towards veterinary practice in the state. He stated that in terms of empowering manpower in the veterinary profession, prospective corps members posted to Oyo state have been mobilized and absorbed into the state’s workforce for their national service with additional remuneration. He also explained that the commencement of Mokola veterinary hospital with adequate materials and also the resuscitation of the medical diagnostic laboratory for infectious disease diagnostics are steps taken by the state government so far.
The event had in attendance the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. O.B. Adedeji; President of the Association, Mr Olaoluwa Ola-Williams; Prof. Christian Happi; Director of African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEEGID), Dr L.S Azeez; Director of Oyo State Veterinary Services (a represented by Dr. Ladipo Abiodun), Hon Victor Olojede; Special Adviser to the Oyo State government on student affairs, among others.
