Evaluation of Veterinary Public Health Service Delivery in Rural Kebbi State

Rural communities in northern Nigeria depend on veterinary public health services to protect both animal and human health, yet service delivery in these settings often falls far short of need. This study evaluated veterinary public health service delivery in rural local government areas of Kebbi State, North West Nigeria. A service availability and readiness assessment framework was applied across eight rural local government areas. Data were collected through interviews with 16 veterinary officers and 12 community health workers, document reviews of service activity records, and focus group discussions with 48 community farmers. Service delivery was assessed across domains including disease surveillance, meat inspection, zoonosis control, and health education. Findings showed that only 3 of 8 local government areas had a dedicated veterinary public health officer. Animal disease surveillance reports were filed irregularly in five areas. Meat inspection services were absent in four local government areas, where slaughter occurred entirely without oversight. Community awareness programs for zoonotic diseases were conducted less than once annually per community. Resource constraints, poor road infrastructure, and insufficient staff motivation were cited as systemic barriers. The study recommends decentralization of veterinary staffing, introduction of community-based surveillance volunteers, and ring-fenced federal-state funding transfers for rural veterinary public health delivery. Keywords: veterinary public health, rural service delivery, Kebbi State, disease surveillance, community health