Jtimes
…As L-PRES Project Coordinator Hands Over Site To Contractor
…Assures Improved Animal Health Services & Economic Growth.
The Gombe State Government under the Livestock Productivity and Resilience Support (L-PRES) Project has handed over Gombe Veterinary Clinic to Space Aurora Ltd, the contracting company that will handle its rehabilitation and upgrade to a veterinary hospital as part of interventions to improve the livestock sector in Gombe State.
Handing over the project site to the contractor, the Project Coordinator Professor Usman Bello Abubakar expressed satisfaction with the development and commended the World Bank and the National L-PRES Project Office for the landmark intervention which he described as overwhelming.
Professor Abubakar said the project signifies an important milestone towards actualising the Gombe State Livestock Transformation Plan introduced by the present administration to reposition the sector into a modern economic enterprise.
He described the clinic as the oldest in the state but had faced neglect for decades despite its strategic location and increasing demand for its services in the state.
The Project Coordinator hinted that the aim of the rehabilitation is to upgrade the clinic into Veterinary Hospital and equip it with modern facilities which he said necessitated the L-PRES Project to present a formal request to the World Bank for the total rehabilitation of the clinic during their last mission to the state.
He commended the State Governor Alhaji Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya for his foresight which brought such an important project to Gombe State and his continued support to ensure its success, assuring stakeholders of the project commitment to modernize and commercial the sector to create job opportunities for women and youth in the state.
He hinted that the project has already rehabilitated three slaughter slabs at different locations in the state, constructed a disease surveillance and diagnostics laboratory attached with a cold chain store.
He added that when the ongoing upgrade of local livestock markets are completed with the upgraded veterinary hospital on board, these developments will paveway for the full implementation of livestock reforms to support the planned International Livestock Market and Gombe Ultra Modern Abattoir.
In a goodwill message the Commissioner Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Husbandry and Cooperatives Dr. Barnabas Malle represented by the Director Veterinary Services Dr. Makeri Aminu Joseph, expressed appreciation for the planned rehabilitation of the clinic and commended the State Governor Alhaji Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya and the L-PRES Project for the far reaching interventions to revitalize the livestock sector.
Dr Makeri however, pleaded with the Project Coordinator to consider the construction of a borehole to ease water shortages at the clinic.
The planned rehabilitation includes large and small ruminants units, reception and waiting area, doctors common room, ambulatory and pharmacy units, theater and sterilization rooms, treatment room, poultry unit and toilets among others.
The handing over event was witnessed by the Head of Veterinary Services Dr. Danladi Ibrahim Waziri, staff of the clinic and the Gombe L-PRES Project team.
