By U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Cammie Quinn
PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan — Livestock and agriculture is a key source of income in eastern Afghanistan.
The need for qualified veterinarian technicians continues to grow, especially here, in this mostly rural province south of Kabul.
Recent training with U.S. National Guard members allowed local animal specialists to enhance and expand their capabilities during para-veterinarian training, Nov. 14-15.
Para-vets have a complimentary skill set to those of professional veterinarians. They attend up to six months of animal care training hosted by the Afghan Veterinarian Association and the Nebraska Agribusiness Development Team, said U.S. Army Maj. Catherine Williams, a veterinarian officer from Fayetteville, Ark.
“Seventy-eight percent of people living in Paktya province rely on agriculture and livestock for their livelihood,” said Williams. “By providing para-vets additional training, we are helping to increase their capabilities in order to enhance local economic development.”
During the past 18 months, ISAF has continued aggressive partnership and mentorship programs such as livestock training. Training programs are an effective means of achieving joint Afghan and ISAF goals in the agricultural line of operation.
District sub-governors and the AVA hand selected students to attend follow-on training according to their previous work and interest in livestock.
Afghans from Gerda Serai, Waze Zadran and Shwak Districts attended the two-day course focused on teaching diagnostic abilities necessary to identify and diagnose diseases in animals.
The training also taught students to recognize, via microscope, parasites and disease in blood and stool samples.
“I was not familiar with the microscope before today,” Naib Khan, a paravet from Waze Zadran, said. “I see a lot of diseases with animals and can now diagnose them.”
Khan added he can take the skills back to his community to help keep local animals healthy.
| Date Taken: | 11.18.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 11.18.2011 12:02 |
| Story ID: | 80221 |
| Location: | PAKTYA PROVINCE, AF |
| Web Views: | 68 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Afghan para-vets key to sustainable livestock care, by Wesley Farnsworth, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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