Auxiliary approach to the development of Primary Animal Health Care: policy, regulations and institutional status in Guinea

This paper assesses the justification and need for the involvement of community-based animal health workers (CAHWs) in the Animal Health Network in Guinea. It presents the following features of the auxiliary approach to the animal health network in Guinea:extensive stockbreeding system with large stockbreeding areas often isolated and remote where there is a need for qualified vetsthe CAHW is from the community and well accepted and always availablethe use of CAHWs facilitates the participatory approach to the fight against animal diseasethe training of CAHWs is of short duration and cheapCAHWs assist private practitioners by carrying out local animal heath care services and distributing authorised drugsCAHWs contribute to epidemiological surveillance of diseases, extension of animal health, basic zootechnics and preservation of the environment related subjectsThe paper presents the following methods for facilitating a better involvement of CAHWs in the animal health network:the government should define clear legislation, in order to avoid any loss of control. The legislation should:specify technical interventions to be carried out and types of drugs to be kept in storagedefine the content of training modulesspecify the actors in charge of training, monitoring and evaluation of CAHWsprovide for measures to penalise in case of infringementthe stockbreeders’ community should be involved from the outsetthe content of training programmes for CAHWs should be clearly definedthe private vet should be involved in the monitoring processThe paper concludes that Primary Animal Health Care can be carried out by stockbreeders following short-term training. This approach to animal health proves to be effective because in most African countries the extensive stockbreeding system, coupled with communication problems, do not facilitate the availability of a qualified private vet in all communities. However, given the medical specificities, such as dangers related to technical interventions and the handling of some drugs, it is important to take some measures to restrict the loss of control over animal health care.