Veterinary doctors oppose move to NAADS programme

Aug 29, 2009

VETERINARY doctors have opposed the proposal for them to shift to the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) programme, saying that would compromise the control of livestock diseases.

By Vision reporters


VETERINARY doctors have opposed the proposal for them to shift to the National Agricultural Advisory Services (NAADS) programme, saying that would compromise the control of livestock diseases.

Dr. Sam Okech, the President of the Uganda Veterinary Association (UVA), said the mandate of the grassroots veterinarians is broader than that of NAADS.

Therefore some of the services currently offered by veterinarians would be dropped if they were moved to NAADS.

“With NAADS, their mandate will be to offer advisory services and supply agricultural inputs yet the traditional veterinarian does much more, including disease control, inspection of animal products and livestock movement control.

What will happen to these functions if veterinarians are taken into NAADS?” Okech wondered.

Their roles also include treatment of sick animals and prevention of disease transmission from animals to human beings, which go beyond the mission of NAADS.

The vets also fear that NAADS does not have the capacity to absorb all of them at the sub-county level. “The vets at the sub-county level are not enough. It would be a mistake to lose the few that we have.”

The association petitioned the parliamentary committee on agriculture, animal industry and fisheries to intervene.

“We appeal to your committee to study the proposal and save this nation the looming disastrous consequences it will cause the animal industry,” read a statement signed by Okech. “We advise that the decision be reversed at least for the veterinary extension staff.”

The UVA was responding to recent proposals by the Ministry of Agriculture that the existing frontline extension workers at sub-county level will be shifted to NAADS under performance-based contracts.

The agriculture committee chairperson, MP Oliver Wonekha, advised the UVA to wait until parliament makes the necessary steps.

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