Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
1.
HISTORICAL OVERVIEW OF VETERINARY FACULTY:
Ethiopia
is a country with a population of about 60 Million and an area
of 1.2 million square kilometers. Its economy is very dependent
on agriculture (Crop livestock production). Unfortunately, the
country's current agricultural production does not meet the
food requirement of the population, largely because of high
population growth and ecological degradation. The overall economic
output of Ethiopia is dominated by the agricultural sector,
which constitutes some 40-46% GDP, 85% of employment opportunities
and more than 90% of foreign exchange earnings and most food
supply. The national annual economic growth rate in the last
20 years amounted 2% while the population growth was 3% causing
steady decline in real income per capita. The prevailing country's
economic policy encourages free market economy, foster resource
conservation based smallholder agricultural production and development,
enhances self reliance on food security and creates a solid
foundation for the agricultural sector to support industrial
development (Agriculture led industrialization). Animals represent
a major national resource. The population comprises about 31
million cattle, 23 million sheep, 18 million goats, 7 million
equines, 1.2 million camel, 53 million poultry and immense bee
and fishery resource. Animal rearing is an integral part of
agricultural production in Ethiopia. Crop is cultivated almost
exclusively using animal power. Annually 6 million pair of ox
are utilized in the cultivation of 10 million ha of land. The
lowland is 60% of the national area, 12% of human population
and 40% of the TLU.
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It is virtually upon the animal breeding that the very existence
and survival of the social fabric of the community is based
and built and the lowlands play a crucial role in the national
livestock economy. In the eighties, livestock production comprised
33% of gross value of annual agricultural output and 15% of
GDP, besides supporting rural and urban with milk, meat and
investment opportunities. Lowland breeds of cattle and sheep
made up to 90% legal export of live animals, which comprises
12% of gross annual export revenue that comes distant after
coffee. The livelihood of these pastoralists is always threatened
by disease. By eliminating disease, livestock owners have greater
security of production. This may bring about important changes
in attitudes, faced with prospect of their cattle being decimated
at intervals by Rinderpest and other diseases. It is not surprising
that pastoralists attempt to reduce their risk by maintaining
very large herds. If the treat of epidemic disease is removed
pastoralists may be able to move selective and reduce their
herd size that is more appropriate to carrying capacity of the
rangelands.
However, unit out put of livestock resource is one of the lowest
in the world. Diseases of various origins (viral, bacterial,
parasitic, etc) are among the numerous factors responsible for
poor production and productivity. Some diseases are notifiable
influencing international trade and movement of animals, animal
products and by-products. Among the epidemic diseases Rinderpest
is under reasonable control and virtually on the verge of eradication,
many others are still unaffected and are causing devastating
effects both to the producer and to the national economy.
Modern higher education in animal health in Ethiopia started
with the establishment of the School for Animal Health Assistants
in 1963, subsequent to an agreement reached between the UNDP-FAO
and the Ministry of Agriculture. The training of animal health
assistants was oriented toward the recognition of livestock
diseases by clinical and post-mortem examination, preserving
and sending of materials to laboratories for further examination,
implementation of treatment and controlling mechanisms of diseases,
with particular emphasis on vaccination and improved animal
husbandry, feeding and management. In 1979 the Addis Ababa University
established the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine at Debre-zeit.
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The main impediment to veterinary development is due to shortage
of veterinary manpower. Ethiopia possess 17% of the cattle,
11% of the goats, 12% of the sheep, 15% of the donkeys and 7%
of the camels, 50% of the horses and mules in Africa. This makes
it to rank first concerning the number of these animals. However,
according to the report of the world veterinary congress the
veterinary manpower is only 500 against 17000 in Africa, which
is 0.03% of the veterinarians in Africa. There is only one Veterinary
Faculty graduating annually 20 veterinarians and 50 assistant
veterinarians.
Rationale
for Development of Veterinary Faculties in Universities of Ethiopia:
- Provision
of the qualified men power to meet the needs of various
livestock development activities of MOA, Dairy Development
Board, National Artificial Insemination Centre, Education
Institutes, research and other organizations.
-
Integration of teaching of Vet. Medicine with that of animal
production including poultry.
-
Imparting knowledge on milk and meat hygiene, zoonoses and
human health.
-
Enhancement of animal disease research with special emphasis
on livestock health and production problems of arid, semi
arid areas and low lands.
-
Rural and small-scale farmers livestock improvement.
-
Development of management skill and health care of wild
life, zoo and national park animals.
-
Emphasis on animal husbandry extension.
-
Enhancement of food resource both in quantity and quality
with due consideration to different production systems,
environment, tradition and culture of people and possibility
of export of animal products.
-
Supervisory and leadership capacity over para- veterinary
staff.
-
Ability to start self employment or employed by private
clinics, farms, pharmaceutical companies, milk and meat
product units, pet food industry, animal feed processing
plants, animal products, drugs and feed marketing concerns.
-
Competency to provide consultancy services on animal health
and animal production to end-users.
-
Maintenance of uniformity of veterinary education in Ethiopia.
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Emphasis on cultivation of logical and scientific habits
of thoughts independence of judgment, ability to collect
the information and develop the habits of self-education.
-
Development of the personality, character, clarity of expression,
communication skill and technical writing
-
Modern Veterinary practice in Ethiopia dates as early as
the Italian invasion in the mid 1930’s. However, it
was not until the early 1960’s that the UNDP-FAO and
the MOA agreed to establish a school of Animal Health Assist
ants and modern Veterinary practice stated to take shape
in Ethiopia. The establishment of FVM at Debrezeit by Addis
Ababa University is the major achievements made to advance
veterinary discipline in Ethiopia.
The establishment of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
by Haramaya university at the heartland of the pastoral
community, demonstrates a major leap forward with far reaching
outcomes oflocal, nation, regional, regional and global
significance.
The curriculum and strategic plan of the faculty is based
upon a recognition of social demands, research strengths
and opportunity to develop a first rate undergraduate programme.
The FVM opened in Main campus of Alemaya university in a
grand gala,October,2003 under the leadership of the renowned
scholar, intellectual, research and Microbiologist, Dr.
Mohammed Abdella.
2.
OBJECTIVES OF THE FACULTY OF VETERINARY MEDICINE:
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To produce veterinarians competent in the practice of general
veterinary medicine which include food animal practice,
companion animal practice and veterinary public health
-
To equip them with the knowledge and skills in the diagnosis,
treatment, prevention and control of animal diseases, veterinary
public health, animal production, research and extension
-
To increase food resources of Ethiopia both in quantity
and quality by implementing effective monitoring and control
methods of diseases and to improve herd fertility and overall
production of livestock under different production systems,
taking into account environmental production as well as
the tradition and culture of the people
-
To conduct continuing education program for upgrading and
updating the knowledge and skills of animal health personnel
-
To disseminate information about veterinary medicine and
animal sciences
-
To provide consultancy services on animal health and production
3.
MISSION AND VISION OF THE FVM:
MISSION
“To
enhance animal and human health and well-being and to contribute
to the development of the nation’s economy through training
of veterinarians in basic, biomedical and clinical sciences
and comprehensive veterinary services and outreach programmes”.
VISION:
To be the best veterinary school in Ethiopia and attain a world
class recognition
4.
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMES CURRENTLY OFFERED:
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The
FVM currently offers DVM programme a five year undergraduate
programme and Livestock Production and Rangeland Management
programme, a 3 year B. Sc programme. Besides, Animal Health
Technicians training programme is being offered.
Doctor
of Vetarinary Medicine
Animal Production and Rangeland
Management
5.
THE PROGRAMMES PLANED FOR FUTURE:
In addition to its engagement in higher study in veterinary
medicine and taking into consideration the huge livestock population
and lack of trained man power in all aspects of veterinary profession
the faculty planed in near future to launch B.V.Sc., programme
under the continuous education stream, summer course programme.
The faculty of vetrinay medicine also planning to offer a quality
short term trainings on :
•
Abattoir operations and meat inspections.
• Quarantine operations
• Veterinary diagnostic laboratory techniques
• Management of veterinary service delivery
• Epidemiological research methods
• Refresher courses for veterinarians, Animal health assistants,
animal health technicians.
• Surgical operations in the field.
Contact
Information
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Telephone
(251)
025 - 5530334 - Haramaya Campus
(251)
025 - 7756582 - Jijjiga Campus
FAX
251-025-5530325/31/54
Postal address
Haramaya University
Faculty of Vetarinary Medicine
P.O.BOX 138
Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
Electronic mail
General Information: fvm@haramaya.edu.et
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