COMMENT | DR JOSEPH BYARUHANGA | As a person who has worked with vets in more than 85% of the districts in Uganda, I deeply understand the challenges we face as we strive to serve this country in various capacities and contexts. My leadership will prioritize advocacy, that will be aimed at addressing the gaps in our veterinary workforce and also all workforce related challenges.
We shall start off by conducting an assessment of the current status of the Veterinary Workforce in the country to identify key gaps in the veterinary staffing levels and list workforce related challenges. This information will be generated by our colleagues in the different districts of Uganda electronically through a simple survey which will be implemented in partnership with MVSA.
Equipped with the above information, we shall do the following:
1. Write to UVB/C, MAAIF, Ministry of Public Service, Ministry of Local Government and District Service Commissions to share the findings of the survey and call those ministries to action.
2. If we find any cases of non-veterinarians occupying positions such as DVO or Veterinary Officer in any district, we will write protest letters to the district leaderships copying in the State House Anti- Corruption Unit and IGG.
3. Lastly, we will make press briefings and media awareness about the findings of the survey.
With those initial actions, we should realize some quick positive results to restore confidence in the sector.
My leadership will strengthen the strategic advocacy role of the Uganda Veterinary Association (UVA).
To improve the public awareness of issues affecting our profession, my leadership is committed to awakening the advocacy function of our association.
My leadership will focus its advocacy efforts on the following priority issues affecting our profession:
i. Improvement of working conditions and welfare for vets in the country (means of transport and issue of other scientists)
ii. Funding for animal health and livestock industry.
iii. Effective representation of the interests of the association at all levels
iv. Veterinary Product regulation in Uganda
v. Fight against Quacks
vi. Animal welfare
vii. Emerging global health issues such as AMR and One health
viii. Decent Internship/mentorship and registration of BVM graduates
ix. Addressing gaps in Veterinary Workforce in Uganda.
x. Widening opportunities for vets in various sectors. xi. Veterinary Legislation and policy
xii. Stop the confusion caused by pharmacists in the veterinary sector
Fight against quacks
In the fight against quacks, my immediate contribution as a UVA leader will be to advocate to MAAIF / Minister to expedite the process of developing the necessary regulations for the operationalization of the Veterinary Practitioners Act, 2023. We will also ensure that the interests of UVA members are captured in these regulations through active participation and effective representation. Working closely with UVB/C, we will create public awareness of the new law, advocate to UVB/C to carry out enforcement especially to carb the challenges of quacks.
Just two arrests and prosecutions are enough to create panic and I believe we will bring sanity to our noble profession. Through this I believe the qualified/ licensed veterinarians will start to offer professional services and get paid fairly for their services without unnecessary competition from quacks. I believe this is the path to sustainable improved livelihood and improved welfare for all veterinarians in the country.
To build an inclusive association and ensure effective representation of members interests on various aspects of our profession on different platforms, we will constitute what we call the “UVA Specialist committees” for the different disciplines of Veterinary Medicine. This is provided for in our constitution. Through these committees, we will ensure that UVA fully represents all the interests of its diverse membership. This will also ensure effective representation of our interests as a profession.
These committees will be called upon to guide on issues of their specialty and the guidance of these committees will be adopted as the position of the association. For instance, as a UVA president I may not be in position to competently represent UVA on issues of aquatic health or wildlife practice unless I go back to class one more time. In such cases, the members of the respective specialist committees would be helpful to represent the association and this initiative will give an opportunity to many UVA members to make a contribution to their association.
The UVA App
To address issues of accountability, transparency and efficiency of UVA operations, my leadership will consolidate the existing information management system into what we call the “UVA APP”.
This is meant to empower members to take full control of the affairs of their association with powers to track progress and audit the performance of the executive. The UVA App will digitize many of the services of UVA including receipting, invoicing, application, reminders, CPDs etc.
My leadership will also implement quarterly reporting to members through virtual ordinary general meetings. We also review some of the guiding documents of the association to improve operations at the secretariat.
My leadership pledges to improve the members’ benefits in order to appreciate the loyal members and attract new members. The association will provide the following benefits to members;
1. Subsidized or free CPDS.
2. Low interest loans through the UVA SACCO
3. Legal services
4. Life insurance with great interest rates
5. Mental health services 6. Recognitions and awards for outstanding members
7. Widening investments to ensure members get returns on any of their contribution
8. Social Networking Events (fundraising dinners, veterinary camps).
I pledge to aggressively mobilize resources to support the growth of the association. Through implementation of strategic interventions under the 2nd point of the 7Point Agenda, we will achieve optimal resource mobilization through
i. Proactively mobilizing non-members and members to join and subscribe to the association.
ii. Collaborating with other institutions to write fundable proposals. We will establish formal working relationships with organizations through signing MOUs
iii. Developing short courses for farmers to improve animal health and productivity.
iv. Providing paid CPDs to the veterinary practitioners in Uganda. v. Applying for consultancies through the Specialist committees.
vi. Supporting the establishment of an online scientific journal to generate more income.
vii. Initiating and implementing purposeful resource mobilization (fundraising dinners) for investments on UVA lands and other projects.
UVA reputation is key
To improve the branding and reputation of UVA, my leadership will implement a number of interventions to improve the branding of our association and profession. We will use a proactive approach of “TAKING UVA TO THE PEOPLE” through Quarterly regional UVA outreaches and exhibitions. We will use these events to mobilize and recruit new members and also engage our members in those regions. We will also use these events to mobilize resources for the association. Most importantly, we will use these events to improve our positioning as a profession within the society.
We will routinely engage the media through press conferences and on social media, so that the voices of our members are heard on key issues of our interest. We will strengthen the digital footprint of the association and profession.
The bottom line is: it’s only my leadership which has proposed and pledged to improve the branding and public reputation of our association and profession.
WITH YOUR SUPPORT, WE WILL BUILD A PROACTIVE, INCLUSIVE, ACCOUNTABLE AND VIBRANT UVA WHICH WORKS FOR ALL ITS MEMBERS
******
DR. JOSEPH BYARUHANGA