As many as 16 mobile veterinary units (MVUs) were inaugurated in Nagaland under the government of India’s Livestock Health and Disease Control programme which was initiated with an aim to improve animal health through vaccination, capacity building, disease surveillance and strengthening of veterinary infrastructure across the country. Under the scheme, the Centre provides one mobile veterinary unit for every one lakh livestock population, meant for providing veterinary services including diagnosis, treatment, minor surgery and other basic aids at farmer’s doorsteps. This is a much-needed initiative towards animal health, food security and economy of the country. According to the Economic Survey 2021-22, livestock sector has grown at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.15% over the five years ending 2019-20. Its share of contribution to India’s GDP standing at 4.11%, the sector provides employment to millions of people and has become a stable source of income for lakhs of households. However, millions of animals are culled due to various diseases, thus causing huge economic loss to millions of farmers. In Nagaland too, hundreds of animals fall prey to diseases like foot-and-mouth disease and African swine fever, which are reported at regular intervals. It not only affects the livestock output but also discourages people from taking up farming, thus hampering the state government’s efforts towards reducing dependency on other states for meat. So, the mobile veterinary units will help mitigate and prevent the outbreak of animal diseases through early response and treatment.
However, a co-ordinated effort from government officials and the public is needed for positive outcome. The concerned authorities should ensure that each MVU has a veterinary doctor, medicines and other facilities, besides attending to the needs of the farmers in remote areas. The scheme will be rendered useless if it fails to address the issues faced by villagers. In the meantime, the farmers too should make good use of the facility as animal health affects productivity, distribution, income and public health. Experts say that bad animal health can cause adverse health implications on humans, including outbreak of zoonotic diseases like the COVID-19. This interdependent relationship between humans, animals and the environment has given birth to “One Health” concept to address the shared health threats. But sadly, most farmers in Nagaland ignore animal health and many don’t even report the death of their livestock to the concerned authorities, forget about getting sick animals treated. This indifferent attitude causes uncontrolled spread of diseases in animals by delaying diagnosis and implementation of preventive measures. Some people even risk their health and that of others by consuming meat of dead animals, which experts say can transmit disease to humans. It has to be stopped immediately. Our outlook towards farming and animal health should change. It should be proactive, not reactive.