Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB) Board CEO Dr Indraph Ragwa on measures they are taking to improve quality of vet services offered to livestock farmers
1. So far, what have you achieved with regard to regulation of veterinary services in Kenya?
The board has registered 2,800 veterinary surgeons and 8,500 veterinary paraprofessionals as veterinary practitioners.
In the same breath the board has inspected and ascertained compliance with standards in 4,300 veterinary practices and in the process indicted over 1,500 illegal practitioners in various courts. This has helped in reduction of illegal practices by quacks.
The board has inspected and approved 19 animal health training institutions to train veterinary surgeons and/or veterinary paraprofessionals. This has helped parents and guardians not be conned into taking their children into unaccredited institutions for training in animal health.
In collaborations with the Directorate of Veterinary Services and other stakeholders, the board rolled out the veterinary internship programme and has certified 2,080 graduates to undergo the programme.
2. What challenges have you encountered while executing your mandate?
Inadequate awareness about obtaining quality services by the stakeholders in animal resource industry especially the farmers. The board has developed and is implementing a communication strategy to address the problem.
The board is also faced with inadequate staffing and financial capacity to deliver on its mandate nationally.
3. Is there a database for vets where one can get contacts of all professionals vet?
Yes, there is a database for all registered veterinary surgeons and veterinary paraprofessionals, who by law, are allowed to offer veterinary services. Kenya Veterinary Board uploads annual registers of these professionals in the website www.kenyavetboard.or.ke.
In addition, all registered and up-to-date practitioners are issued with KVB identification cards which clearly show the qualification of the practitioners and the validity of the card. The stakeholders procuring services are encouraged to demand these identification cards from the providers. The board is automating its services such that the stakeholders can access practitioner’s information and status on a portal.
4. We have 47 counties and clearly there are some counties that have fewer vets. Which county has the most vets which has the fewest?
One observation is that practitioners are concentrated in high potential areas as compared with the ASAL areas. Current data is not available but in practice that is the trend.
5. There is a perception that vets charge very highly for their services and that is why many farmers opt for quacks, is there a standard pricing?
For treatment to be carried out, the veterinary practitioners have to move to where the animals are and since the distance and type of cases attended vary, it is not possible to standardise the charges. However, the fees for treatment of specific cases like anaplasmosis etc can be standardized but the total cost will also include transport and professional charges.
Quacks charge less -- and at times they under dose, use the inappropriate drug and don’t carry out full regime of treatment in the cases. We advice farmers to seek veterinary services from vets and veterinary para-professionals registered and approved by the board.
6. Sometime back parents were duped to take their students to institutions not accredited to offer training in animal health courses. What action has KVB done to avoid such costly mishaps from happening again?
After inspection of animal health training institutions, the approved institution are uploaded on the KVB website and also published in the daily newspapers once a year. Only institutions approved by the board are permitted to train in animal health.
7.The problem of quacks in veterinary practice are rampant especially with advent of social media? What is your organisation doing about this?
The board always undertakes routine inspection activities covering the whole country where in collaboration with the County governments, the quacks are identified, arrested and prosecuted with the help of law enforcement agencies. The board is enhancing the inspectorate activities by establishment of regional inspection offices for the services to be closer to the stakeholders. The practitioners and the general public are also encouraged to report to the board suspected cases of malpractices by quacks
8 . How can a farmer identify a genuine vet, what should they look out for?
A farmer can identify a genuine vet by demanding KVB identification cards which have the following features: name and photo of the practitioner, KVB Logo, qualification of the practitioner, the year of validity, Board’s address, practitioner’s registration number and national identity card number. Yes, farmers can demand for the identification card when seeking for services.
9. What should one do or where should they report when they have a complaint that touches on a vet?
Any acts of malpractices or ethical practices by veterinary practitioners should be lodged with Kenya Veterinary Board using email address [email protected], letter to Chief Executive Officer, P.0 BOX 513-00605 Nairobi or physically visiting the office. The board thereafter conducts an inquiry and takes appropriate action. To address the problem of malpractice, the board has instituted inquiry into the unethical and unprofessional misconduct of 26 veterinary surgeons and 8 veterinary para-professionals with relevant action being taken including reprimand, fines and de-registration.
10. Seems like there is a shortage of vets in Kenya ... what should the State do to address this?
The Constitution of Kenya 2010 established devolved system of government to take services closer to the consumers. Devolved units should ensure adequate staff are available to provide the veterinary services. The World Organisation for Animal Health has developed a tool for evaluating the performance of veterinary services that can be used to identify the optimum numbers of practitioners in each County. Kenya Veterinary Board is ready, willing and able to advice or assist the Counties in this regard.
11. In terms of enrollment, are we having more students take up vet courses at the universities and what does it take to qualify?
Over the years and especially after the advent of the Veterinary Surgeons and Veterinary Para-professionals Act that advocated for the provision of quality veterinary services, practice opportunities for veterinary practitioners are increasing and is evidenced by the increasing enrolment of students undertaking veterinary medicine or/and animal health courses in the university or other animal health institution. To qualify for the course the students have to meet the admission grades as per the curriculum that is developed by the board; upon admission the students are indexed by the board to ascertain they are eligible for the course. Once they successfully complete the course and pass the examinations, the graduates undergo a one-year veterinary internship programme and are registered if successful.
12. Finally, in this New Year, what big plans do you have in a bid to bring fresh change especially with regard to quacks in the industry?
The board intends to establish five regional inspectorate offices and engage inspectors and compliance officers to man them. This will ensure wide coverage hence contribute to eliminating the quack menace.
The board also intends to continue using electronic and print media as part of the endeavour in creating awareness on the existence of quacks and their detrimental effects. In all these efforts, the board seeks collaborations with the relevant stakeholders who include media, county governments and others in the animal resource industry in order to achieve its mandate.
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