Continuing Professional Development for Veterinarians Working in Africa

Abstract

Livestock production in Africa makes a vital contribution to livelihoods, food security, income generation and gross national product. With its enormous forage production potential and current livestock population of more than 191 million cattle, 340 million sheep and goats and 700 million poultry, Africa has a largely under-recognized and grossly under-exploited potential to sustainably supply the rising global demand for livestock products. Livestock service delivery personnel, lead by veterinarians, can play a major role in meeting this demand for increased livestock production by acquiring updated relevant knowledge and extending that knowledge to livestock producers in the form of skilled practice and informed technical advice and to policy makers by way of effective advocacy. To achieve these outputs our current and future generations of veterinarians working in Africa need to update their “knowledge, skills and personnel qualities” by undertaking an appropriate form of Continuing Professional Development [CPD]. This need has been recognized by the Kenya Veterinary Board that requires veterinarians registered to practice in Kenya to undergo formal CPD programmes / activities measured by a points system. Each KVB registered veterinarian must accumulate at least 60 CPD points over three years with a minimum of 15 points per year. This paper describes how the Department of Veterinary Services Kenya, with DFID funding, aims to assist veterinarians meet KVB requirements by providing accessible, affordable and relevant CPD content by way of on-line e-learning.