By Rafiullah Mandokhail,
ZHOB: Deputy Director Livestock and Dairy Development Dr. Naseebullah Kakar has said that the provincial government is striving for the development of the livestock and puts the sector on modern line utilizing all the available resources. The Livestock provides livelihood to majority of the rural population. There are around 0.8 million animal heads in Zhob district.
He was talking to journalists during their visit to Livestock and Dairy Development department here on Saturday. Veterinary doctor Mujeeb-ur-Rehman Nasar, Dr. Sheikh Tahir Mandokhail, Dr. Karim Dad Babar and Nazar Khan Musakhail were also present on the occasion.
The journalists visited different sections of the department including animal diagnostic lab, artificial insemination center and medicine store. They were briefed about the different animal tests carried out at the lab and diseases including Brucellosis.
“Zoonotic disease Brucellosis is an infectious disease and common in rural areas that can spread through direct contact with the animal carrying Brucella bacteria,” Dr. Mujeeb-ur-Rehman said.
Regularly testing the herds and culling have been an effective way of eradicating the disease. Coordinated efforts are also required by medical, veterinary and media for public benefit at large for an effective control of such diseases. He said.
The deputy director said that the animals are treated with free medicines against Brucellosis, Theileria, and Babesia, while vaccinated against Anthrax, Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia, Black Quarter, sheep pox, goat pox and Hemorrhagic Septicemia diseases at a state-of-the-art lab established in a building constructed with the financial support of BRSP.
Dr. Naseebullah Kakar said serious action has been taken against chronically absent employees of the department. Civil Veterinary Hospitals (CVHs) in Qamar Din Karez, Sambaza, Garda Babar and Murgha Kibzai have been made fully functional and the doctors are performing their duties in far-off areas of the district.
He said the department has demanded of the provincial government to provide equipments worth Rs 2.3 million on immediate basis.
“If the demand is met, it would help the department to overcome the long-lasting problems and medicine shortage,” he explained.
The department head further said that the artificial insemination service is being provided to the cattle owners and the AI centre is equipped with storage facility for both semen and liquid nitrogen. Locally obtained semen from bulls is more effective than the imported ones.
“After assuming charge as deputy director necessary repair, paint work and plantation have been completed at the office”.
Mover over he said to overcome the seasonal diseases, setting up free veterinary camps has also been started in the district. In some areas the department has organized free camps while in Murgha Kibzai, Garda Babar, Sambaza, Gustoi and Qamar Din the camps will soon be set up to treat and vaccinate the cattle.
“With the support of secretary, director general and divisional director of the Livestock department, veterinary camps are organized twice in a year,” he said.
“Adviser to CM Mitha Khan Kakar has approved Rs 4.5 million for the development of dairy farm and Rs 3 million for the poultry farm,” he maintained.
Responding to a question he said, for the awareness at school and college level, it is planned to have different sessions at educational institutions to aware the students about different diseases, their symptoms, treatment and prevention. For the public awareness ‘Farmer Day’ is also celebrated soon, where all those associated with livestock will actively participate. He maintained.
He said at the district level Animal Welfare and Ethics committee has been formed. The committee is led by Deputy Director and all the CVH heads are members of the committee. The committee will closely work with the concerned authorities to control animal brutality and to ensure hygienic condition at slaughter house and selling of healthy meat at the market. Vet drug inspector will soon start the inspection of medicines in the district.