Community poultry vaccinators to fill Malawi veterinary gap

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  File photo

  A group of community-based poultry vaccinators has received training in Malawi in hopes of filling gaps in veterinary care.

  From WATTAgNet:
  The National Rural Poultry Centre (NRPC) Malawi, has trained 31 community-based poultry vaccinators around the Malomo and Chipuka extension planning areas in Ntchisi on how they can manage poultry and assist in implementing the work done by veterinary workers. NRPC, a non-government organization (NGO), has also given poultry medicine to the trained community-based poultry vaccinators.
  GRM International, an agricultural development company based in Australia, provided funding for the training.
  Speaking during a recent certificate presentation ceremony to the farmers, NRPC Malawi Interim Director Pat Poland, called on the certified community-based poultry vacinators to utilize the skills they gained during the three-day training to help assure that poultry meat becomes readily available at affordable price.
  "We have decided to assist poultry farmers because veterinary officers are very few and they not reach out to all farmers. … The trained community-based poultry vaccinators will train fellow farmers in their respective areas," he said.
  In her remarks, Ntchisi District Development Officer (DADO) Hycinthe Jere commended National Rural Poultry Centre in partnership with the Kyeema Foundation for training the community-based poultry vaccinators. Jere said having a new group of poultry vaccinators will reduce the gap of poultry veterinarians and will go far to reach more farmers.