Community based animal health care
Practical Action
these being the only persons available in ASALs. Consequently CBAHWs are providing the
services illegally. It has been recommended in some countries such as Kenya that the
Veterinary Surgeons Act be reviewed to accommodate “semi professionals and other cadres of
veterinary Practitioners” (Hubl et al., 1998). This move would lead to the improvement of the
delivery of animal health services especially in ASAL.
Table2: The effect of the Veterinary Surgeons and Pharmacy and Poisons Acts on the
veterinary services in high potential areas and Arids and Semi arid Lands
Legal Issue
Effect On Service Delivery In
High Potential Areas
Effect On Service Delivery
In Arid And Semi-Arid
Areas
1. VETERINARY surgeons
Act, Cap.366
i) Only registered veterinary
surgeons to establish
veterinary services
ii) Certificate and diploma
holders in animal health
not registered to establish
vet practice.
iii) Community based
animal health workers not
recognized.
2. The Pharmacy and
Poisons Asct, Cap 224
i) Vets can not carry out
business of veterinary drug
stockists
-Trained vets available to
establish vet practices and
offer services
-Government vets available and
are providing services
-Certificate and Diploma
holders trained, and are
carrying out illegal practices
(by providing services)
-Certificate and diploma
holders in Government services
are providing services.
-Number in high potential areas
negligible. Insignificant effect
on service delivery.
- Operation of private practices
limited and therefore services
delivery is equally affected.
-Sell of vet drugs monopolized
by pharmacists who have little
respect for ethical practices in
dispensing these drugs.
-Number of vets trained is
insignificant. No provision of
services through private
veterinary practices.
- Few government vets; thin
service on the ground
-A few certificate and
Diploma holders trained but
working with NGO’s
- Few certificate and
Diploma holders in
Government sector –
provision of limited services
-Limited number available,
but providing services
illegally
-Potential to train more
exists if recognized by law.
-Supply and usage of
veterinary drugs out of
control.
-Many vet drugs in the
hands of pastoralists in poor
and rudimentary services
delivery.
ii) Veterinary personnel not -Inadequate control of drugs
in drugs inspectorate
-Vet drugs in the hands of non
service
professionals and hence poor
services in many cases.
th
Source; proceedings of the 8 DAH workshop, ITDG (1999)
b) Policy advocacy
Policy advocacy was necessary considering the serious need for vet services in the ASAL areas
against the current veterinary legislation. The points to be considered were;
• Who to influence
• What evidence to defend
• Who are the direct and indirect beneficiaries
• How each stakeholder will be affected
Practical Action EA involved various stages in its advocacy strategy, which included;
• Proving a case on the ground
• Publishing and publicising the case
• Working with the government veterinarians
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