Veterinary Council twinning between South Africa and Tanzania concluded

South Africa and Tanzania are amongst one hundred and eighty-two members of the OIE supporting the objectives of international cooperation in fighting animal diseases globally.   During the past eighteen months [April 2018 to January 2020], the Veterinary Council Tanzania [VCT] and the South African Veterinary Council [SAVC] undertook an OIE funded Twinning Programme with the aim of improving the effectiveness of execution of regulatory tasks performed by the VCT and the SAVC.

Dr Clive Marwick, Chairman of the South African Veterinary Council (left). Picture (c) P. Bastiaensen (oie) 2018.

The Twinning Programme included training on:

1. Standards of training i.e. development and implementation of: Day One skills for new graduates, assessment criteria for initial training institutions, and for continued professional development [CPD];
2. Standards of practice i.e. development and implementation of: registration of veterinary practices, setting practice standards, responsible use of medicines, including antimicrobials and the One Health concept; and
3. Functioning of VSBs, independent from political and commercial influence, including development of software programmes for control and management of data pertaining to registered professionals, including students enrolled for prescribed qualifications, improved communication with registrees; and strategic planning and budgeting.

The achievements of the Twinning Programme include:

1. Adoption of Day One skills guidelines for veterinary and veterinary-para professionals and of criteria of assessment of the veterinary training institution by both the VCT and the veterinary training institution in Tanzania;
2. Formal implementation of the relevant legislation relating to CPD; and CPD opportunities created for registrees;
3. Formal implementation of the registration of veterinary practices by registered veterinarians, including requirements for veterinary- only prescription of medicines;
4. Understanding and training on the One Health concept;
5. Improved veterinary diagnostics by acquisition of microscopes in veterinary clinical practices adopted as a minimum standard;
6. Development and implementation of a software programme for data capturing and management of registree information and CPD; and
7. Drafting and adopting a strategic plan for the VCT for 2020-2025 with a view to become an independent VSB.

In conclusion, VCT and the SAVC agreed to continue assessment of the achievements on an annual basis for the next five years.  The reason being that achievements need to be assessed as implemented over time.

Dr Bedan Masuruli, Registrar of the  Veterinary Council of Tanzania. Picture (c) P. Bastiaensen (oie) 2018.