A fully staffed veterinary service is a critical enabler to a thriving agriculture sector in the Western Cape, says Dr Ivan Meyer, provincial Minister of Agriculture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His comments come in the aftermath of a report from the South African Veterinary Association that more than 50% of the country\u2019s young veterinarians are leaving, citing economic and safety concerns as the main reasons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Western Cape Department of Agriculture provides veterinary services \u2013 public health, export control and analytical services \u2013 and support to industries and producers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
According to Meyer, the agriculture sector creates jobs and drives economic growth. The findings of the SA Veterinary Association is thus troublesome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe international norm is between 200 and 400 veterinarians per million of the population \u2013 yet currently, there are about 60 to 70 veterinarians per million in South Africa. This represents about 25% of our country\u2019s needs. So this is a crisis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe shortage is further aggravated by South Africa removing veterinarians from the critical skills list, making it harder for international veterinarians to acquire a work visa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe shortage of veterinarians puts South Africa\u2019s economic prospects and animal and human health at risk.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He stresses urgent interventions must be explored to stop and reverse the trend of young veterinarians emigrating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe need employment and remuneration conditions that create an enabling environment. Occupational Specific Dispensation (OSD) is one avenue that should be explored to achieve this. In addition, improving young veterinarians\u2019 working environment and career prospects will improve the retention of a critical skill required within the agricultural economy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meyer said he would write to the national Minister of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development seeking urgent intervention. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSouth Africa needs a second veterinary training centre. Our reliance on a single veterinary faculty to train our veterinarians is a considerable risk. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cA second veterinary faculty must be commissioned to train more veterinarians. Coastal provinces (Western Cape, Eastern Cape and KZN) are ideal sites to host a second veterinary faculty. These provinces carry more than half of the country\u2019s animal population that could be better serviced and benefit from the research platform created by the new faculty. With such an initiative, veterinarian work on aquaculture and marine culture will also receive a massive boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOur veterinary service promotes healthy animals, sustainable and profitable animal production enterprises, safe trade in animals and products of animal origin, and the well-being of animals and the public.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A fully staffed veterinary service is a critical enabler to a thriving agriculture sector in the Western Cape, says Dr Ivan Meyer, provincial Minister of 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