As Uganda continues to develop its livestock sector and confront new public health challenges, its worth noting that the future of animal health depends not just on individuals, but on the strength and synergy of the entire veterinary team.
Veterinarians have been urged to embrace teamwork in delivering effective veterinary services
and ensuring the health of animals.
The call was made by Willington Bessong Ojong, Country Team
Leader of Emergency Centre for Transboundary Animal Diseases (ECTAD) of the
Food and Agriculture Organisation, as the world marks World Veterinary Day.
Observed annually on the last Saturday of
April, World Veterinary Day honours the dedication and often-overlooked
contributions of veterinarians and animal health workers across the globe. This
year, it is celebrated on April 26th, under the theme, “Animal
Health Takes a Team.”
According to Bessong, this theme underscores
the importance of collaboration across a wide range of sectors that support
veterinary services, from clinical practice and animal husbandry to public
health, research, and regulatory oversight.
He emphasised that in Uganda, the message of
teamwork resonates deeply because the country faces significant animal health
challenges, including emerging zoonotic diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and
the threat of livestock epidemics, all of which require a unified,
multidisciplinary response.
“Veterinary health in Uganda is not just
about veterinarians,” says Bessong.
The 2021 National Livestock Census by the
Uganda Bureau of Statistics (UBOS) indicates that 71.5 percent of
livestock-keeping households rely on private animal health services, the
majority of which are delivered by veterinary paraprofessionals (VPPs) such as
veterinary technicians, assistants, and nurses.
With a limited number of
veterinarians available, mostly in government employment VPPs often serve as the
first and sometimes only point of contact for farmers seeking animal
healthcare, especially in rural and underserved communities.
He further highlights that beyond capacity
building, collaboration is being fostered through joint training programs and
coordinated policy development.
According to Ojong, World Veterinary Day is
a chance to appreciate the silent heroes behind livestock health and agrifood
sustainability. He notes that “more than that, it’s a call to action to
reinforce partnerships, invest in training, and build stronger, more
collaborative animal health systems.”
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Dennis Kasule Ssebunya
Freelancer