Background
Following the recommendation of its Committee on Agricultural Education, the National Universities Commission (NUC) at its 40th statutory meeting of 6th September 1989 directed each Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in Nigeria to establish a ‘Veterinary Teaching Hospital attached to but as an independent unit of the existing Faculty of Veterinary Medicine’. Accordingly, the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta established its Veterinary Teaching Hospital at the Isale-Igbein Mini-Campus of the University in May, 2005, to facilitate easy accessibility of the local community to its services. The various Departments in the College under the umbrella of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital render specialized Veterinary consultation, clinical and diagnostic services to the livestock, agro-allied and Public health sectors, the local community as well as the University farm for the clinical aspects of the training programme.
Mandate of Veterinary Teaching Hospitals
The Veterinary Teaching Hospital (VTH) is expected to provide facilities and expertise for clinical training of undergraduate and postgraduate veterinary students and offer veterinary services to communities in FUNNAB’s mandate area. Apart from developing and improving the practical skills of veterinary graduates, the Veterinary Teaching Hospital is expected to serve as are feral centre for private practitioners and governmental primary veterinary care facilities. Also, the Veterinary Teaching Hospital is expected to contribute to the efforts of Federal and State government authorities in the control of animal diseases including those transmissible to humans.
Operations
The Veterinary Teaching Hospital commenced its operation at the permanent site, the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta on the 20th January 2014. However, the Isale-Igbein clinic was retained as its annex. The annex is now located at Kemta Housing Estate, along OGTV/Ajebo Road, Idi-Aba. It is hoped that at least two rural satellite clinics will be established outside Abeokuta. The various Departments in the College of Veterinary Medicine under the umbrella of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital render specialized Veterinary consultation, clinical and diagnostic services to the livestock, agro-allied and Public health sectors, the local community as well as the University farm for the clinical aspects of the training programme.
