Report reveals nearly 50% of trained veterinary doctors in Cameroon unemployed.

Speaking during the gathering, the President of the National Order Veterinarians of Cameroon, Albert Ichakou, explained that several factors contribute to the high unemployment rate in the sector.

French newspaper, Echo Sante, quoted the Ichakou as saying that the increase in the number of veterinary schools in the country in recent years has led to an increase in the number of graduates, exceeding market needs. 

The lack of veterinary hospitals for in-house clinics, he said, affects the quality of training for students, making them less competitive in the job market. 

According to Ichakou, the absence of a clear policy for the development of the veterinary profession in Cameroon does not make it possible to create adequate jobs for young graduates. 

The low budget allocated to the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, it was said, does not allow sufficient funding for job creation programs for veterinarians.

“We are witnessing the exodus of veterinarians to other countries in search of work, which is depriving Cameroon of its valuable skills. There is a lack of motivation among young graduates who become discouraged and turn to other sectors of activity,” Ichakou detailed. 

He expressed the worry that animal health is deteriorating due to lack of veterinarians to provide care and disease prevention.

During the general assembly meeting, Albert Ichakou spoke of the reorganisation of certain provisions, namely modifying and adopting the code of ethics of the profession.

He also mentioned the need to set guidelines likely to ensure the smooth running of the profession and, if necessary, propose measures to the supervisory authority that can contribute to the smooth running of the Order. 

The President of the National Order of Veterinarians of Cameroon also stressed on “the need to engage rights holders and other users to improve the quality of the expected services, particularly in clinics and veterinary practices, the fight against the illegal exercise of veterinary medicine and the application of texts governing the veterinary profession in Cameroon in general”. 

About the National Order of Veterinarians of Cameroon

It aims to regulate admissions into veterinary schools according to the needs of the labor market, build veterinary hospital centres to improve the quality of student training, put in place a clear policy for the development of the veterinary profession which identifies the needs of the sector.

The Order also aims to create adequate jobs for young graduates, advocate an increase in the budget of the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, in order to finance job creation programs for veterinarians and finally, encourage the installation of veterinarians in rural areas where the needs for veterinary care are the greatest.

During the Yaounde gathering veterinarians adopted several resolutions aimed at improving the situation of the veterinary profession in Cameroon.

It was agreed that government, veterinary schools and veterinary professional organisations must work together to find lasting solutions to the problem of unemployment in the veterinary sector in Cameroon. 

The Yaounde general assembly held in the presence of the Secretary General of the Ministry of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Jaji Manu Guidado.

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0: 3158 of Thursday July 4, 2024