The Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA) has said the abuse of antibiotics by quack veterinarians cause high rates of resistance to bacteria in humans.
Majority of the diseases in humans, it said, are traced to animals and that Nigeria lacks sufficient veterinarians and facilities to track such zoonotic diseases.
Chairman of Abuja Chapter of NVMA Dr. Ifeanyi Ogbuspoke during while marking World Veterinary Day in Abuja at the weekend with the theme: Strengthening Veterinary Resilience.
He said activities of quack veterinarians have left animal products unwholesome, thereby putting the lives of consumers of such animals at risk.
Ogbu urged the Federal Government to set up animal health centres to give veterinarians access to farmers.
He noted that the ban on importation of frozen meat has led to huge production of livestock and made the profession thrive.
Acting Registrar of Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) Dr Ezenwa Nwakonobi said controlling quackery required a multidimensional approach.
He said one of the mandates of VCN is setting standards for training of veterinarians, and regulating veterinary medicine and the practitioners themselves.
“In doing all these at the training level, we ensure that the curriculum is such that it speaks to the current issues.
“The issue of regulating the practice and the practitioners is for the purpose of making sure that the global standards are maintained by the practitioners, “ he said.