Veterinary professionals share best practices to improve sector.

The training which opened August 1, ended August 3. The conclave took place under the theme: “Promoting excellence in veterinary medicine by transforming veterinary education for a sustainable future”. 

Initiated by the School of Veterinary Medicine of the University of Ngaoundere, the historic event was chaired by Minister of State, Minister of Higher Education, Prof Jacques Fame Ndongo.

Also present was the Minister of Livestock, Fisheries and Animal Industries, Dr Taïga; the Rector of the University of Ngaoundere, Prof Mamoudou Abdoulmoumini; the Director of the Veterinary School of Ngaoundere, Prof Henriette Zangué Adjia, as well as host of teachers, researchers and students. 

According to organisers, the first symposium of veterinarians of Cameroon was a platform that aimed at promoting networking between actors of the different sectors for fruitful collaborations as well as common initiatives aimed at strengthening food security. 

The gathering, organisers said, was also aimed at creating a platform that will permit Cameroonians to consume good meat, fish and dairy products throughout the national territory.

The symposium, organisers said had the merit of bringing together on the same platform, veterinary professionals, para-veterinarians, researchers, teachers, students and veterinary manufacturers for an objective brainstorming, seek a common way forward and also encourage excellence within the veterinary sector.

According to Prof Fame Ndongo, if the University does nothing to support the development of its sector, it has failed in its mission. 

“This is why we insist on supporting development. And the higher education orientation law promulgated by the Head of State on July 25, 2023, barely a year ago, emphasises two key concepts, namely: the university as a business and the status of the student entrepreneur,” he said. 

He noted that the student entrepreneur is a student who learns to create and manage a business and “this is what the government of the country has been wishing for”.

Dr Taïga unveils achievements 

Dr Taïga on his part emphasised on the policies put in place by government in terms of food security based on import substitution. He equally mentioned some of the remarkable achievements recorded by the government in the domain.

“If there is a victory over import substitution that the government can claim today, it is obviously the end of the importation of poultry and pork. So, we must produce more and produce better,” Dr Taïga said.

The member of government insisted on local production, particularly in livestock farming and especially fishing sector. 

“In the fishing sector, Cameroon has major challenges to overcome, as the country imports more than 250,000 tons of fish per year, for a total of 150 billion FCFA,” he said.

This, the member of government insisted, is a financial opportunity to be grabbed by those in the sector. He encouraged those in the sector to develop initiatives in the fish sector given that there are waterways to be exploited to produce fish.

Director of the School of Veterinary Science and Medicine at the University of Ngaoundere, Prof Henriette Zangue Adjia, on her part remained optimistic about the future of the profession.

“We are convinced that the discussions and exchanges that will take place here will contribute to strengthening cohesion within our professional community and opening up new perspectives for the development of our sector,” Prof Zangue Adjia said.

LANAVET contributions unveiled

The General Manager of the Cameroon National Veterinary Laboratory, LANAVET, Dr Abel Wade, stated that: “…medicines used in the sector are imported amounting to about 20 billion FCFA each year. LANAVET therefore took the initiative to produce the first veterinary medicines which is part of the first their achievements. We therefore have a business plan which is to produce all veterinary medicines for all of Africa, because there is no African country that produces veterinary medicines, everything is imported. So, we want to make things made in Cameroon, that's the first thing”.

He added that at the level of LANAVET, they have been able to produce an anti-venom serum for humans called anasave. The said anti-venom serum, is made from snakes captured in Cameroon. 

“We have identified several species of venomous snakes and we have developed an anti-venom serum to demonstrate our know-how. From now on at LANAVET, it is the venom of snakes from Cameroon that is used based on snakes raised by our teams. The anti-venom serums that are imported from India, for example, do not take into account the types of snakes that we have in Cameroon,” Dr Abel Wade added. 

He disclosed that if one is bitten by a snake from Cameroon, and go to the pharmacy for an anti-venom product that comes from India, it may be ineffective and the victim may even die “It is rather the anti-venom that is made in Cameroon that can treat you because it was made from local venom”.

Dr Abel Wade added that they are currently negotiating with the Ministry of Public Health for the product to be validated. 

“We also have the cholera vaccine. It should be noted that cholera is a disease caused by a bacterium. I would also like to point out that among the missions assigned to LANAVET are also the production of vaccines and serums for human use,” Dr Abel Wade said.

For three days, participants and visitors were able to explore the many facets of the veterinary profession. 

This story was first published in The Guardian Post issue N0:3191 of Tuesday August 06, 2024