AFSCAN app to provide perspective on canine health
Left to right: Dr Anselm Voigts, AFSCAN Ambassador, Namibia; Dr Olatunji Nasir, AFSCAN Ambassador, Nigeria, Professor Amandus Muhairwa, AFSCAN Ambassador, Tanzania.
Two initiatives have been announced by the African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN) as part of its efforts to drive up standards of veterinary care in Africa.
Announced during a meeting of the AFSCAN Board and Ambassadors, the first initiative will use a tablet-based app to collect data from vets in Kenya. The vets will be asked to collect health and demographic data from dogs visiting their practices.
This will provide a 'valuable baseline perspective' on canine health in Kenya, says AFSCAN. It also has the potential to be extended across the AFSCAN countries, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda.
The second initiative is a 'twinning programme' that will give vets in Africa the chance to partner with a veterinary hospital in the United States. The project aims to provide a long-term mentoring relationship with the African vet and allows the US vet to get involved in international veterinary development.
Developed by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), AFSCAN is working towards its goal of enhancing veterinary care in Africa. This is being achieved through the provision of online and continuing education and through the creation of a sustainable network of small companion animal veterinary associations (SAVA’s).
Commenting on the project's progress, Dr Gabriel Varga, chair of the AFSCAN board said: “The progress made by AFSCAN over the last three years is extraordinary and is a credit both to the Ambassadors and Board who have worked so hard to strengthen the companion animal veterinary communities in their own countries.
“We are looking forward to the launch of our new projects for 2017. Looking ahead, we are also exploring how we can extend the benefits AFSCAN is bringing to other countries in Africa. 2017 is set to be another exciting year!”
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