The Principal Veterinary Officer, Bayelsa State Ministry of Agriculture/Medical Director of the state-owned Veterinary Hospital, Yenagoa, Dr Maxwell Philips, has commended the State Governor, Senator Douye Diri, for his desire to continuously improve health infrastructure across the state.
Dr. Philips, who also lauded the Governor’s predecessor, Senator Henry Seriake Dickson, for his foresight in establishing the hospital, described the two leaders as worthy Ambassadors of the Medical and Health profession.
He gave the commendations Tuesday during an interview with newsmen in Yenagoa, the state capital, during an assessment tour of the animal health infrastructure.
According to him, upon the establishment of the facility, through its awareness and sensitization activities, more members of the public, especially owners of pets and farm animals, have become more aware of the importance of animals’ health in connection with their personal health.
The Veterinarian noted that from 2014 to date when the facility was established, the hospital has attended to over 4000 registered patients (animals).
It would be recalled that the Bayelsa State Governor’s predecessor in 2014 built a Veterinary hospital in the Edepie axis of Yenagoa, the state capital.
The animal health Doctor, who also described the facility as the biggest and first state-owned veterinary hospital in the entire South-South zone, warned unsuspecting members of the public against the consumption of meat produced from uninspected and unapproved abattoirs in the state.
According to him, this became necessary because about 90% human diseases were contracted from animals, saying also that humans obtain over 80% of their food stuffs from animals, hence the need to thread with caution in the patronage of abattoir operators.
“Animals serve as pets and foods, so people need to be very careful in their relationships with animals, especially when these animals are sick or bought for consumption.
“In Bayelsa State, there’re currently only two Government approved abattoirs. One is the Bayelsa Palm abattoir, while the other is the Swali ultra-modern market abattoir. We want to advise against meat patronage from uninspected and unapproved abattoirs in the state.
“Veterinary Drs from the state-owned Veterinary hospital visit the Swali and Bayelsa Palm abattoirs on daily basis as early as 6am for inspection of the health statuses of animals and give approval if certified fit for human consumption before they’re butchered for sale around 7am”, he said.
He continued that “it’ll interest you to note that as a direct result of the importance the Government places on establishing this facility, the Bayelsa State College of Health Technology, Otuogidi, during the past one year has been bringing its students of the Department of Public Health for studies on animal health and diseases to this hospital.
“And, currently, the Niger Delta University’s (NDU) Faculty of Pharmacy has also made an arrangement with the management of the hospital in which it would be bringing its students to under study animal pharmacy in this facility.
“So, the effort the Government of the state has put in building this veterinary hospital is yielding very positive result. We thank His Excellency, Senator Douye Diri, Governor of the state, for his commitment and dedication towards ensuring that this hospital remains functional”, he added.

By: Ariwera Ibibo-Howells, Yenagoa