The Role of Veterinary Medicine in Public Health; The Khwisero example

The role of VPH within the global health agenda is to promote activities that contribute to the achievement of health for all and help realize its objectives. Veterinarians assist in planning, policy-setting, allocating resources, and providing technical guidance, orientation, and support to the operational staff.

Public health is dependent on animal health in rural area because poor animal health directly affects the human food supply. New information and new approaches for the efficient and cost-effective delivery of reliable and accurate information to VPH users in these areas are required.


VETERINARY PUBLIC HEALTH IN KHWISERO, KENYA; SUCCESS,CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES.

Mark Nanyingi1§, Alfred Koballa 1, Humphrey Ongili1, Christopher Okello1, Tindi Bushuru 2, Kelly Nelima3

1Ministry of Livestock and Development, District Veterinary Office, PO BOX 60 -50135, Khwisero, Kenya
2Ministry of Livestock and Development, District Veterinary Office, PO BOX 1160, Butere, Kenya
3Ministry of Livestock and Development, Provincial Veterinary Office, PO BOX 871, Kakamega, Kenya

Abstract

Background
Public health is dependent on animal health in rural areas because poor animal health directly affects the human food supply. Veterinary public health entails the diagnosis, surveillance, epidemiology, control, prevention and elimination of Zoonoses. Unsatisfactory implementation of stringent disease control, meat inspectorate and drug dispensation legislations prevents the efficient production of food of animal origin; creating obstacles to international trade in animals and animal products and hence an impediment to overall socioeconomic development.

Methods

Data were extracted from the Khwisero veterinary relational database including clinical, meat inspectorate, disease surveillance, and extension from October 2009 to March 2010. Participatory approaches were used to collect data from private service providers and stakeholders concerning the status of veterinary service delivery. A qualitative and quantitative analysis was conducted to determine the challenges, incentives, cost-effectiveness and policies that would improve veterinary public health.

Results

An Epidemio-surveillance system (ESS) has been established enhancing detection and reporting of notifiable diseases in partnership with paraprofessionals. Meat inspectorate services improved consumption leading to a 75% revenue increment with a 27% decline in condemnation. Knowledge gap on legislation and regularization of private practitioners was combined with imprudent drug dispensation and home use had a significant negative impact on clinical services (67%). Workforce deprivation and Staff demotivation leads to suboptimal discharge of duties at 30% (p<0.001). Insufficient funding (-60%) was a contributor to poor service delivery.

Conclusions

New information and approaches for the efficient and cost-effective delivery of reliable and accurate information to VPH users in rural areas are required. Staff recruitment, training and motivation will foster service delivery. Establishment of regional laboratories to provide accurate diagnosis is essential for field research. A requisite combination of epidemiological, statistical and economic tools must be underpinned by detailed knowledge of livestock disease patterns for public-policy formulations in effective Veterinary Public health systems.

Key words: Veterinary Public Health, Khwisero, Zoonoses.

© 2010 Khwisero District Veterinary Office