EQUINE | SAVC News
Benefits for the country by employment of Animal
Health Technician at Co-operatives, Wholesalers and
others
• Improve animal health through extension services;
• Improve production through education;
• Contribute to the fight against AMR resistance;
• Contribute to food security and safety;
• Promote the One Health concept;
• Add value to the implementation of Primary Animal
Health Care for all;
• Provide regulatory contact points for veterinary
services in the country at co-operatives Improve farmer
knowledge,
improve production and add value for money;
• Provide a link and support to both state veterinary
and private veterinary sectors.
Benefits for Feedlots when they employ Animal
Health Technicians
Many pharmaceutical companies perform research
at feedlots therefore if they employ AHTs then their
products will be handled by qualified and well trained.
AHTs who are accountable which is not the case when
lay persons are employed.
CONCLUSION and WAY FORWARD
The South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) as
regulator of the profession of AHTs is recognising the
value of AHTs and exercise its powers to ensure that
lay persons are not employed to render the services
of AHTs. Many veterinarians in private practice work
as consultants in feedlots which is positive for the
health of animals and humans but when they leave the
feedlot after their visits who is handling the medicines?
Veterinarians should be encouraged to advise that AHTs
be employed at these feedlots. Leaving animal health
services in the hands of lay persons is contrary to food
safety concerns of the country. It is through the above
motivation that registered qualified animal health
technicians should be considered for employment in
the feedlots, cooperatives and wholesalers to ensure
food safety (protecting consumers from food related
health risks) and to promote animal production( reduce
losses caused by animal diseases). The South African
Association of Animal Health Technicians possesses
the list and contact details of unemployed animal
health technicians.
NEWSLETTER 88, MARCH 2017 OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF
THE SOUTH AFRICAN VETERINARY COUNCIL NEWSLET-
TER 88, MARCH 2017 OFFICIAL NEWSLETTER OF THE SOUTH
AFRICAN VETERINARY COUNCIL
• Volume 20 Issue 1 | April 2018 •
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