Every individual in the animal health profession must be registered with the Kenya Veterinary Board (KVB) every year to be allowed to practice. KVB is a constitutional board which regulates all matters of veterinary practice and certifies institutions of higher learning, which train individuals on all aspects of animal health from certificate to degree holders.
This oversight body gives professionals in animal health unique identification cards complete with their board registration numbers, qualifications and identity numbers. These cards should be produced to every farmer on demand.
The individual you call daktari can either be a Veterinary Surgeon (a degree holder in Veterinary Medicine with the prefix Dr before his/her name) or a Veterinary paraprofessional (Certificate or Diploma holders in animal health).
Constitutionally, the roles of these two groups in veterinary service provision have been spelt. A veterinary paraprofessional can only carry out certain procedures such as surgeries among others under the supervision of a veterinary surgeon.
Presence of quacks has encouraged fraud in veterinary profession. Aspects of fraud include artificial inseminators (AI) who cheat farmers on the kind of semen used to serve your animal so that one can pay more.
Such individuals refer to normal unsexed semen as sexed only for your cow to calve funny looking bull calves. Such farmers feel cheated but never know what kind of action to take against such individuals. As a farmer, knowledge is power and you have the right to know. Get a proper explanation on what problem your animal has, what causes it and what kind of treatment the animal will be offered. Always be curious to know how you can prevent the disease in future, if there is any form of vaccination to help control and prevent such a disease.
Depending on the response during such interactions, one can easily notice whether they are dealing with a fake. In case a farmer is aggrieved with the kind of services offered or feel conned, they can report to KVB. This body shall investigate the matter and take appropriate action for the said individuals including prosecution or deregistration.
Like physicians, vets can also face charges for professional negligence. Imposing as an animal health practitioner is criminal and any affected farmer should report such for action.
Any aggrieved farmer can visit KVB offices in Kabete (Ndumbuini) off Waiyaki Way.
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