An overview of animal health in Ethiopia
1989
Ephraim Mamo (Addis Ababa University, Addis Ababa (Ethiopia). Institute of Pathobiology)
Giant strides have been taken in the control of the major epizootics during the last three decades, in which the Department of Veterinary Services has been actively engaged in disease control. However, none has so far been eradicated. Limitations in resources and other constraints appear to limit the activities of the animal health sector, primarily the vaccination campaigns. Treatment aspects get comparatively very little attention. Nutritional problems are direct causes of disease states as well as indirectly contributing to reduced effectiveness of control and treatment programs. With respect to the relationship of animal and human health, we feel that the zoonoses are not getting the attention they deserve. Furthermore, the role of animal products in human nutrition has not been increasing. In workforce development, the total number of Ethiopian veterinarians has more than doubled during the last four years. Most of this contribution has been made by the School of Veterinary Medicine of Addis Ababa University. In addition to veterinarians, the number of veterinary assistants, vaccinators, and scouts has increased significantly during the last few years. There are a number of questions regarding production and effective utilization of trained animal health workforce. The operational budget for animal health is very inadequate in relation to the magnitude of the problems. The lion's share of the budget appropriation goes to personal services. Within the limitations of the budget there are questions regarding administration and efficient use of the existing resources overall animal health at the peasant level did not develop much. This has partly been related to the peasant's capacity. This paper is an "outsider's" attempt to present an overview of the status of Ethiopian animal health. I hope we will get more enlightenment from officials of the Department of Veterinary Services and other capable individuals who are participating in this conference
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