Lagos, Nigeria – June 11, 2025
In a renewed push to strengthen public health systems, veterinary doctors under the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), Lagos State chapter, have called for strategic collaboration with the Lagos State Ministry of Health to actualize the One Health initiative.
During a courtesy visit to the Ministry on Tuesday, the team of veterinary professionals emphasized the need for a unified approach in tackling emerging public health threats, including zoonotic diseases—those that can be transmitted from animals to humans.
Chairman of the association, Dr. Yetunde Aina, said the One Health framework remains vital for building resilience against public health emergencies such as avian influenza, rabies, and antimicrobial resistance. She stressed that veterinary experts bring unique insights and expertise essential for holistic health policy development.
“The One Health approach recognizes that human, animal, and environmental health are interconnected. For Lagos to effectively prevent disease outbreaks, we must build cross-sectoral bridges between veterinarians, medical doctors, environmental scientists, and public health officials,” she said.
Responding, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, welcomed the proposal, noting that the Ministry is committed to broadening partnerships in line with global health best practices. He assured that modalities for collaboration with the veterinary sector would be explored under existing health emergency frameworks.
The meeting concluded with both parties agreeing to set up a technical working group to develop a roadmap for integrating veterinary services into the state’s public health response systems.