Community-based animal healthcare, participation, and policy: where are we now?

This paper discusses some experiences and common arguments when engaging central policy makers and veterinary professional bodies in order to develop pro-CAHW (community-based animal health workers) policy. It looks at five commonly expressed views and challenges the assumptions they make: CAHW is nothing new and doesn't work - this view relates to colonial-style veterinary services in remote areas, but CAHW differs from old approaches as it is based on joint analysis of problems; CAHWs are illiterate and backward - refers to six year training received by vets compared with a few weeks training course. The issues here are urban and professional bias, and doing the best where there is no vet; If we legalise CAHWs the international community will say we have a second-rate veterinary service - concerns about exporting livestock can be overcome by creating links between CAHWs and professionals; There are enough trained animal health professionals - yet CAHWs are usually part-time, live within their communities, and don't poach professionals' jobs; This is donor imposition - yet CAHW have demonstrated their ability to deliver government programmes.