OS20 Online 17 December

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EuFMD | Open Session special edition | #OS20se
Sonia Fèvre1, D. Sherman1, L. Nake1, P. Motta2, N. Lyons2, K.
Sumption2, P. Bastiaensen1
(1) World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)
(2) European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease (EuFMD)
Empowering Veterinary Paraprofessionals in
Africa for Better Control of Transboundary
Animal Diseases

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Introduction
Veterinary paraprofessionals (VPPs), often referred
to as paravets, represent a spectrum of workers in
the field of animal health. They may be trained from
a few weeks (community-based animal health
workers) to several years (Bachelor’s degree) but are
not regarded as veterinarians and cannot be
qualified as such, which limits their relative scope of
activities. That said, they often serve a critical role,
particularly in the provision of animal health services
for smallholder farmers who do not have access
to veterinarians for their livestock.
As part of the veterinary workforce, VPPs can:
• encompass a wide range of categories, e.g.,
vaccinators, field animal health assistants,
laboratory bench workers, meat inspectors and
veterinary nurses
• work either in the private or public sector
VPPs should:
• be recognised by national veterinary legislation
• be regulated by a Veterinary Statutory Body (VSB)
• be part of a veterinary team, under the direction
of a qualified, certified, veterinarian.
In Africa, veterinary paraprofessionals have been
active for decades greatly outnumbering
veterinarians, particularly in remote areas, and have
been successfully deployed in a variety of tasks and
campaigns, such as the eradication of rinderpest.
VPPs in Africa still frequently play a critical role in
delivery of preventative and associated services in
animal health [1].
Since the adoption of the global programme to eradicate
peste des petits ruminants (PPR), there is renewed interest
in supporting this cadre of veterinary staff and identifying
how the recently adopted OIE Competency and Curricula
Guidelines for VPPs could be used to improve their
training and promote standard setting, recognition and
licensing of VPPs by veterinary statutory bodies.
Several initiatives, led by the OIE and EuFMD, are
underway to strengthen the competency acquisition and
recognition mechanisms and establish models for
sustainable practices providing high quality delivery of
“last mile” VPP services. These models will enhance
preventative approaches against PPR, FMD and other
transboundary animal diseases (TADs) with a view to the
goal of eradicating PPR by 2030.
Such strategies will also help countries build resilience to
better safeguard livestock farming during animal health
emergencies.
Key words: Veterinary paraprofessionals (VPPs), Community animal health workers (CAHWs),
Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), veterinary legislation, regulation, training
OIE Definition of Veterinary
paraprofessionals
“a person who, for the purposes of the Terrestrial Code,
is authorized by the veterinary statutory body to carry
out certain designated tasks (dependent upon the
category of veterinary para-professional) in a territory,
and delegated to them under the responsibility and
direction of a veterinarian. The tasks for each category of
veterinary paraprofessional should be defined by the
veterinary statutory body depending on qualifications
and training, and in accordance with need.”
https://www.oie.int/index.php?id=169&L=0&htmfile=glossaire.htm
OIE P Bastiensen

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EuFMD | Open Session special edition | #OS20se
Methods
A number of enabling factors need to be in place to
ensure the effective distribution of animal health
personnel across the workforce. These enabling
factors and methods which can support their
achievement are described.
Conclusions
Thanks to support from the donor community (BMZ,
DTRA, AFD, BMGF*), the OIE and EuFMD are
undertaking feasibility studies to identify needs and
gaps related to the veterinary workforce and PPR and
TADs control in Eastern, Southern and West Africa.
Ensuring that a trained and competent workforce is in
place, with sustainable financing and income models
to allow for prolonged services beyond one-off
campaigns, will help ensure that countries are able to
work effectively towards the goals of PPR eradication
by 2030, as well as being better prepared for other
animal health emergencies.
Vet students, Africa, B Ouattara
*BMZ = The Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
DTRA = Defense Threat Reduction Agency
AFD = Agence française de développement
BMGF = Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
References
[1] OIE (2016) Continental Conference on the Role of Veterinary Para-Professionals In Africa “Linking Veterinary Para-
Professionals And Veterinarians” 13.10.2015 – 15.10.2015, Pretoria, South Africa
[2] VLSP: https://www.oie.int/en/solidarity/options-for-targeted-support/veterinary-legislation-support/
[3] VSB Twinning: https://www.oie.int/en/solidarity/veterinary-statutory-bodies/
[4] OIE (2018) OIE Competency Guidelines for Veterinary Paraprofessionals:
https://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Support_to_OIE_Members/docs/pdf/A_Competence.pdf
[5] OIE (2019) OIE Curricula Guidelines for Veterinary Paraprofessionals:
https://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Support_to_OIE_Members/docs/pdf/AF-CoreCV-ANG.pdf
Enabling factors for efficient
deployment of veterinary
workforce
Approach Tools include
1) The distribution of the veterinary
workforce covers the territory and meets
the needs of the population
Assessment of veterinary workforce needs
in terms of geography, and skills and tasks,
ensuring that public and private good
functions are met and personnel receive
sustainable incomes
• Veterinary workforce assessment
• Feasibility studies
• Community engagement methods
2) National legislation ensures there is a
legal basis for veterinary personnel to work
(veterinarians, VPPs and, if relevant,
CAHWs)
Legislative reform
• OIE Veterinary Legislative Support
Programme (VLSP) [2]
3) Veterinary statutory body (or other
regulating mechanism) ensures that
different categories of veterinary personnel
are registered, held to clear standards of
training and performance and properly
represented and regulated
Reform of regulatory environment,
establishment of or improvements in scope
and management of VSB to include
regulation of VPPs (and, if relevant, CAHWs)
• OIE VSB Twinning [3]
• OIE VSB support
4) Educational institutions deliver relevant
training with appropriate curricula, to meet
the required competencies for different
categories of veterinary personnel through
initial training and Continuing Professional
Development (CPD)
Training institutions develop or upgrade
their training based on international
guidelines and use job-based competency
frameworks
• OIE Competency and Curricula
Guidelines for Veterinary
Paraprofessionals [4,5]
• Curriculum support
• Training and certification management
systems.

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EuFMD / Open Session