Abuja, October 2026 – Propcom+ convened State Directors of Veterinary Services (DVS) and selected Directors of Veterinary Teaching Hospitals (VTHs) to discuss the adoption of a Last-Mile Delivery Model for veterinary vaccines and animal health services through Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) and Veterinary Paraprofessionals (VPPs).
The convening brought together leaders from state veterinary services, veterinary teaching hospitals, regulatory institutions, and development partners to explore practical approaches for improving access to veterinary services and animal health products in underserved livestock-producing communities across Nigeria.
The discussions were focused on strengthening collaboration between State Veterinary Services and Veterinary Teaching Hospitals to improve vaccination coverage, disease surveillance, diagnostics, and animal health outcomes through an integrated service delivery model.
Participants observed that livestock producers in many rural and hard-to-reach areas continue to face significant challenges accessing veterinary services, resulting in low vaccination rates, delayed disease reporting, and reduced livestock productivity. They also agreed that reaching livestock keepers at the “last mile” is essential to strengthening disease prevention and control systems while improving the livestock-dependent households.
A recurring theme throughout the meeting was the critical role that Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) and Veterinary Paraprofessionals (VPPs) can play in bridging service delivery gaps. These frontline providers can extend the reach of professional veterinary services, particularly in communities where veterinary personnel are scarce or unavailable.
However, stakeholders stressed that successful implementation of the model must be backed by clear regulatory frameworks, effective supervision mechanisms, and strong institutional support. To achieve these there’s the need to clearly define the responsibilities of veterinary professionals, veterinary paraprofessionals, and community animal health workers to ensure quality, accountability, and compliance with national veterinary standards.
The event also underscored the complementary roles of Veterinary Teaching Hospitals and State Veterinary Services. Participants noted that Veterinary Teaching Hospitals possess valuable expertise in diagnostics, training, research, and specialist veterinary care, which can be leveraged to strengthen service delivery across states. It was proposed that states without Veterinary Teaching Hospitals should establish collaborative arrangements with neighboring institutions to access technical and diagnostic support.
Several participants emphasized the importance of conducting comprehensive gap analyses to better understand the current state of veterinary service delivery across the country. Such assessments, they noted, would help identify capacity constraints, infrastructure needs, workforce gaps, and priority areas for investment before scaling the model nationally.
The discussions further highlighted the importance of strengthening regulatory oversight within the veterinary sector. Stakeholders emphasized that institutions such as the Veterinary Council of Nigeria must continue to focus on their regulatory responsibilities, including quality assurance, professional standards, and compliance monitoring, while creating an enabling environment for service providers to operate effectively.
Another key area of discussion was sustainability. Participants agreed that the Last-Mile Delivery Model cannot rely on free service provision or volunteer labor if it is to achieve long-term success. Sustainable financing mechanisms that adequately compensate service providers while remaining affordable to livestock keepers were identified as a critical component of the model.
Stakeholders advocated for a market-oriented approach that encourages private sector participation, improves service accessibility, and creates incentives for veterinary professionals and paraprofessionals to serve rural communities. Participants noted that state governments will play a crucial role in creating an enabling environment through policy support, investment, and institutional coordination.
The experience of implementing animal health interventions across different states was also highlighted as a valuable source of learning. Participants encouraged greater knowledge sharing among states and institutions to identify what has worked, understand common challenges, and develop context-specific solutions that can be adapted across the country.
The meeting concluded with a commitment to develop a clear roadmap for advancing the adoption of the Last-Mile Delivery Model through CAHWs and VPPs. Stakeholders agreed that stronger partnerships among state governments, Veterinary Teaching Hospitals, regulatory bodies, veterinary professionals, and development partners will be essential to achieving scale and sustainability.
By strengthening last-mile delivery systems for vaccines and veterinary services, Nigeria can improve disease prevention and control, enhance livestock productivity, strengthen food security, and build a more resilient animal health ecosystem capable of supporting the country’s growing livestock sector.
