A Professor of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine at the University of Ilorin, Nusirat Elelu, has emphasized the critical link between diet and health, asserting that the quality of what people consume greatly influences their well-being.

Professor Elelu made this assertion during the institution’s 283rd inaugural lecture titled, “The Public Health Veterinarian through Ticks, Snails and Community Service.” She highlighted that over 70% of recent emerging and re-emerging diseases affecting humans are zoonotic—originating from animals. Citing research findings, she stressed the importance of preventing diseases in animals to safeguard human health. She urged Nigerians to pay closer attention to the quality of meat they consume, noting that protecting public health should be a collective responsibility.

The former Head of the Department of Veterinary Public Health and Preventive Medicine emphasized the need for a multidisciplinary approach to healthcare—especially in resource-limited countries—arguing that collaboration across sectors, as promoted by the One Health strategy, is essential for effective and lasting improvements in public health.

According to her, public health is concerned with the well-being of entire communities rather than individual patients. She pointed to Nigeria’s success in controlling avian influenza between 2006 and 2010 as evidence of the benefits of coordinated efforts between human and veterinary health professionals. Using zoonotic tuberculosis as an example, she explained that some diseases cannot be tackled by the human health sector alone. She advocated joint vaccination campaigns for nomadic populations, covering both livestock and children, to curb disease transmission.

Professor Elelu, who also serves as the Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, called for integrated surveillance systems involving both veterinary and medical professionals at national and international levels. Such systems, she argued, would be pivotal in combating animal-borne diseases and ensuring food safety.

She emphasized the need to improve monitoring at abattoirs and healthcare facilities to better identify and control zoonotic infections. In the absence of effective vaccines or treatments for certain diseases, she advocated closer collaboration between human and animal health sectors.

The professor—who is the first woman from Kwara State to attain a professorship in Veterinary Medicine—also appealed to stakeholders in animal husbandry to educate farmers on best practices, including biosecurity, vector control, vaccination, and waste management. These measures, she noted, would not only reduce the incidence of animal diseases but also enhance food security, reduce poverty, and prevent zoonotic outbreaks in humans.

She further underscored the importance of timely health communication between human and veterinary sectors to quickly identify high-risk areas or populations and enable targeted interventions.

Finally, Professor Elelu called for intensified public awareness campaigns focused on animal diseases. She advocated the use of specific, audience-targeted messages—especially for vulnerable groups—to curb infection spread. She also recommended sustained enlightenment against the consumption of unpasteurised dairy products, accompanied by personalized public engagement for greater impact.