By Felicia Imohimi

The Federal Government has unveiled the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support Project (L-PRES) Private Veterinary Services (PVS) Scheme in Ondo State to expand access to animal healthcare.

The initiative is aimed at bringing veterinary services closer to livestock farmers, strengthening disease prevention, reducing livestock losses and supporting private veterinary practitioners.

This is contained in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) by Dr Sanusi Abubakar, National Project Coordinator of L-PRES, on Saturday in Abuja.

Abubakar said the unveiling featured the distribution of veterinary support kits to beneficiaries to strengthen their capacity to provide field services.

He listed the kits to include veterinary medicines, essential drugs, vaccination equipment, diagnostic tools, personal protective equipment (PPE), sprayers, disinfectants and veterinary field bags.

He added that beneficiaries would also receive mobility support, including motorcycles, and digital reporting tools to facilitate field operations.

Abubakar said the scheme, also known as the Sanitary Mandate Programme, would engage qualified private veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals to provide essential animal healthcare services.

“The PVS scheme, also known as the Sanitary Mandate Programme, is designed to engage qualified private veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals.

“This will enable them to provide vaccination, disease surveillance, diagnosis, treatment and other essential veterinary services, particularly in rural livestock farming communities,” he said.

He said support under the scheme would be tied to services delivered and verified to ensure accountability and effective implementation.

According to him, the initiative is expected to improve access to veterinary care, strengthen disease prevention and create more opportunities for private veterinary practitioners nationwide. (NAN)

FUA/TAK

Edited by Tosin Kolade