Uganda celebrates World Veterinary Day with a call for improved services

Chief Guest Under secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Ssegawa Gyavira plants a tree to mark WVD 2024 in Rakai
Chief Guest Under secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Ssegawa Gyavira plants a tree to mark WVD 2024 in Rakai

THE Uganda Veterinary Association (UVA) has hailed government for fast tracking ammendments to various outdated laws to improve the veterinary sector and the One Health approach, in the country.

The association however stated that several challenges remain, including the need to re-centralize veterinary services, increase veterinary public servant’s salaries and staffing at national and local level.

Speaking as Uganda joined the rest of the world to celebrate the 24th Celebrations of the World Veterinary Day in Rakai on Friday, UVA President Dr. Daniel Kasibule hailed especially the  recently passed  Veterinary Practitioners Bill – formerly the Veterinary Surgeon’s Act.

The new act provides an institutional framework for regulation of veterinary practice by providing for the training, registration and licensing of all Veterinary professionals in Uganda including
Veterinary para-professionals, who were exculded in the old act. The scope of the olf Act was limited to the registration of degree holders.

Currently, Uganda has only 1,186 registered veterinarians but over 3,700 unregistered veterinary para-professionals. Veterinary para-professionals include meat examiners, veterinary public health officers, technical laboratory staff and artificial inseminators.

“We are reminded of the critical role that veterinarians play as essential health workers in safeguarding the well-being of not only animals, but humans and our shared environment as these three facets are closely interconnected,” Kasibule said at the celebrations  organised by the Uganda Veterinary Association (UVA) in partnership with Ministry of Agriculture and Animal industry and fisheries (MAAIF), the Food and Agriculture organisation FAO and VSF-G.

“As we reflect on the theme of this year’s World Veterinary Day – Veterinarians are essential health workers – let us recommit ourselves to supporting and empowering veterinarians in their noble endeavors. Let us advocate for increased investment in veterinary education, research, policy, transport, laboratory and diagnostic infrastructure ensuring that these essential health workers have the tools and resources they need to fulfill their vital mission”

UVA president Kasibule (middle) and Chief Guest Under secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Ssegawa Gyavira (right) inspect one of the stalls at the WVD exhibition

Under secretary Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries Ssegawa Gyavira was the chief guest.

He was welcomed by host District Veterinary Officer Dr.Elias Kizito Nsubuga and key stake holders DDA, BAM Animal Clinic, COVAB,  NAGRIC and RAKAI DLG. Participants included vets, environmental officers and DSFPs drawn from districts of Kalangala, Buvuma, Rakai, Gomba and Kyotera.

Activities that preceded the celebrations included

🔴 PPR and Rabies Vaccination:
Supported by MAAIF, VSF-G & Rakai Veterinary Staff
🔴 One Health Training:
Conducted by FAO and the National One Health Platform (MAAIF, MoH, MWE and UWA).
🔴 Surgical Camp for Dogs & Cats:
Led by Uganda Small Animal Practitioners Association (USAPA)
🔴 Farmers Training in Dairy, Poultry, Piggery, and Goats:
Improved Management Techniques by Partners

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FULL SPEECH

WORLD VETERINARY DAY NATIONAL CELEBRATIONS – 26TH APRIL, 2024

 AT DATIC, RAKAI DISTRICT

SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT UVA

Hon Minister of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries,

Hon. Minister of State for Animal Industry,

Honorable Members of Parliament Present

The Country Representative, FAO Uganda,

The Resident District Commissioner,

The LCV Chairman, Rakai District

The Chief Administrative Officer, Rakai

The District Veterinary Officer, Rakai

Colleagues Veterinarians from Public, Private sector and Industry

Members of the Media Present,

 

Our Esteemed Guests today,

The Uganda Veterinary Association is proud to join the rest of the world on the 24th Celebrations of the World Veterinary Day since its first observation in 2000 by the World Veterinary Association.

Hon Minister, over the years, UVA has had the privilege of partnering with MAAIF and other stakeholders in commemorating the World Veterinary Day (WVD) in different districts with our association emerging winners of the prestigious award twice (2018 and 2019).

I stand before you today with a profound sense of gratitude and admiration for the tireless dedication of veterinarians worldwide and with particular emphasis to those in our mother land Uganda “The Pearl of Africa”. As we gather on this auspicious occasion of World Veterinary Day, 23 of its type ever since when the commemoration started. We are reminded of the critical role that veterinarians play as essential health workers in safeguarding the well-being of not only animals, but humans and our shared environment as these three facets are closely interconnected.

The theme of this year’s celebration, “Veterinarians are essential health workers,” resonates deeply with the unprecedented challenges we have faced and continue to confront. From combating zoonotic diseases which are now accounting for more than 70% of the emerging and re-emerging global disease threats to ensuring food safety and security, antimicrobial resistance threats, conservation of livestock and wildlife for future generations, climate change which are just a tip of the iceberg veterinarians stand at the forefront of efforts to promote health and mitigate risks across diverse ecosystems where veterinary expertise is needed.

In times of crisis, whether it be a global pandemic or a natural disaster, veterinarians are among the first responders, working tirelessly to protect both animal and human populations. Their expertise extends far beyond the clinic or laboratory, encompassing fields as varied as public health, environmental conservation, and agricultural sustainability to mention but a few.

As we reflect on the theme of this year’s World Veterinary Day, let us recommit ourselves to supporting and empowering veterinarians in their noble endeavors. Let us advocate for increased investment in veterinary education, research, policy, transport, laboratory and diagnostic infrastructure ensuring that these essential health workers have the tools and resources they need to fulfill their vital mission.

UVA also wishes to thank you for listening to their outcries and ensuring the following:

  • Reinstating the Uganda Veterinary Board (UVB)
  • Fast tracking on various outdated laws especially the most recent one, The Veterinary Practitioners Bill formerly the Veterinary Surgeon’s Act.
  • Cabinet pronouncement of the creation of an independent veterinary regulatory authority under MAAIF.
  • Increment on veterinary public servant’s salaries
  • Provision of potent livestock vaccines
  • Production and marketing grants restoration.
  • Amendment and updating key policies (e.g Animal Diseases, veterinary practitioners bill, animal feeds bill). fast track their implementation
  • Reduction of the frequent arrests of members while in line of duty.
  • Working in conjunction with Food and Agricultural Organization to give a facelift of their Wandegeya secretariat.

The following Challenges/ Prayers however still exist:

  • Re centralization of veterinary services so that there is one chain of command from the CVO (Chief veterinary Officer).
  • Fast tracking of processing and implementation of key policies affecting our sector.
  • Increment on veterinary public servant’s salaries to be in tandem with fellow mainstream scientists.
  • Timely provision of enough potent livestock vaccines.
  • Expand and support private sector provision
  • Improve staffing at national and local levels.
  • Allocate more funds into research of a thermal stable vaccines (Comparison with the New castle Disease Kuku star vaccine by Brentec).
  • MAAIF should develop and implement a national herd health program with meaningful funding for major epidemics vaccination calendar, Develop and disseminate SOPs for the major epidemics (FMD, African Swine Fever (ASF), New Castle Disease (NCD) and Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD).
  • Reinstation of the Veterinary scouts an equivalent of the VHTs.
  • Establishment of a One health mandate with structures at all governance levels.
  • National recognition and broadcast of UVA/MAAIF national events.

Honorable Minister Sir, as we look towards a vibrant animal industry, we reiterate our commitment to align our actions for a future of improved veterinary services for enhanced national and global health.

I conclude by by thanking all our partners in this year’s celebrations; Ministry of Agriculture and Animal industry and fisheries (MAAIF), the Food and Agriculture organisation FAO , VSF-G. DDA, BAM Animal Clinic, COVAB,  NAGRIC and RAKAI DLG, vets, environmental officers and DSFPs drawn from districts of Kalangala, Buvuma, Rakai, Gomba and Kyotera.

I thank and recognise the president of UVA central chapter.Dr Ismail Assimue and VP UVA Dr Nabadda  for spearheading the organization of all activities this week and today’s function.

FOR GOD AND MY COUNTRY.

Dr. Kasibule Daniel

President UVA.

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PICTORIAL: World Veterinary Day 2024 celebrations in Rakai, Uganda

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