Vets to benefit from three-month training

A vet in action checking up a calf in Nakuru [Boniface Thuku, Standard]

Veterinary field staff will benefit from a month-long training programme that seeks to sharpen their skills. The programme, dubbed In-service Applied Veterinary Epidemiology Training (ISAVET) is being implemented by Directorate of Veterinary services at national and county levels in collaboration with the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO). The 26 frontline animal health professionals drawn from eight counties including Turkana, Kericho, West Pokot, Elgeyo-Marakwet, Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Samburu and Nakuru will benefit from skills on disease management. While presiding over the event at Kenya School of Government Baringo campus, FAO country team lead for Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases Prof Folorunso Fasina said the field officers will be taken through emerging and re-emerging zoonotic diseases and new diagnostic skills.
“In the training of frontline vet staff who respond to animal health issues like zoonotic diseases, it is important to have veterinary officers who are well trained to respond promptly,” he said.
Fasina said the programme is also being implemented in other 17 African countries with the aim of control transboundary animal diseases. Dr George Mukok, in-charge of human resource administration at the Director of Veterinary Services Nairobi said the trainees would help in forming a team who would provide data and surveillance services from counties to the national government.