TB Surveillance: Veterinary Doctors Seek Stronger System to Curb Spread

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…strengthening TB surveillance would significantly reduce the risk of undetected transmission from animals to humans.

Awka, Nigeria — The iNews Times | Anambra TB surveillance has come into focus as the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Anambra State Chapter, called for stronger intervention measures and surveillance systems to effectively address animal-to-human transmission of tuberculosis in the state.

The association made the call during a public enlightenment campaign at the Umunya Slaughter House in Oyi Local Government Area, held to commemorate the 2026 World Tuberculosis Day themed, “Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver.”

The event also featured a radio sensitisation programme, public enlightenment sessions, and meat inspection exercises aimed at improving public awareness and safety standards.

Speaking during the campaign in Umunya, the State Chairman of the association, Dr Victor Ughaerumba, emphasised that ending tuberculosis in the state is achievable through sustained government investment and improved disease monitoring systems.

He specifically certified the slaughterhouse as suitable for the construction of an ultra-modern abattoir with well-structured facilities, while calling for the development of functional veterinary diagnostic centres to ensure accurate ante-mortem and post-mortem diagnosis.

According to him, strengthening TB surveillance would significantly reduce the risk of undetected transmission from animals to humans, particularly in meat processing environments.

While supervising the inspection of a slaughtered cow, Ughaerumba stressed the need for increased awareness of the disease and the prompt reporting of suspected 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.

“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 on some human errors in whatever we are doing. That is going forward for better, safer, and greater public health in Anambra,” he added.

Also speaking, Chairman of Onyeaghananwanneya Butchers Association, Umunya, Mr Chinwuba Uba, appreciated the association for the campaign, which he described as life-saving, noting that issues surrounding meat safety are critical to public health.

He stressed that meat safety cannot be overlooked, assuring that members of the association would adhere strictly to standard hygienic practices in meat processing and handling at the slaughterhouse.

One of the butchers, Chief Chidiebere Nwankwo, also pledged to utilise the knowledge gained from the campaign to enhance public health safety across the meat processing value chain.

Stakeholders at the event reiterated that sustained public awareness, improved infrastructure, and stronger TB surveillance systems are essential to achieving the goal of ending tuberculosis in the state.