EQUINE | SAVC News
EQUINE | SAVC News
diseases that threatens not only human health and well-being ( food security and economic means ), but also fauna and flora comprising the critically needed biodiversity that supports the living infrastructure of our world
Benefits of employing registered qualified AHTs in cooperatives , feedlots and wholesalers
• Anti-microbial resistance [ AMR ] and other medicines . Unacceptable levels of residues in food
• Rapid spread of zoonotic diseases such as Rabies , Brucellosis and Tuberculosis
• 75 % of emerging animal diseases can be transmitted to humans
• 60 % of human pathogens are of animal origin .
MOTIVATION
• Feedlots , wholesalers , cooperatives and other outlets sell / use veterinary medicine and / or stock remedies that need special consideration in terms of storage , usage and disposal . Only a qualified AHT , veterinarian and veterinary nurse as field and clinical workers possess the knowledge required to provide owners / clients regarding medicines and / or stock remedies . Qualified AHTs are registered with the SAVC , therefore professionalism is regulated .
• The scope of practice of AHTs provides a high level of animal health know-how to deal with societal needs and consequently promotes agricultural economic growth .
• AHTs [ registered and qualified ] possess knowledge and skills in disease prevention and control linked to intensive production in poultry , pigs and ruminants .
• AHTs are trained to communicate and to educate the animal owning public [ extension services ]. They are able to provide a much needed educational service regarding the use of medicines and / or stock remedies within the wholesaler- and cooperative industries . Wholesalers and cooperatives need to understand the value of AHTs whose services have the potential to not only improve profit margins , but to expand the market by application of animal health knowledge and recommending alternative remedies in the event of unavailability of medicines and / or stock remedies and where medicines and / or stock remedies are not indicated for a particular disease / symptom .
• They may recommend a different substitute in case of an availability of a medicine which is not even related to the disease / symptom in question .
• Employers [ wholesalers , cooperatives and others ] will be able to monitor progress and will be able to build on animal health education should they employ AHTs which cannot be the case when lay persons are employed . A network exchange / link / communication channel exists between state- , private- and unemployed animal health technicians through the association of animal health technicians , which contributes to alleviating challenges in terms of the lack of animal owner education , disease control and PAHC . AHTs as regulated professionals can be held accountable for advice given to clients / owners , treatment given to animals and for disease control activities , which is not the case when services are rendered by lay persons .
40 • Equine Health Update •