RWANDA: Farmers get free vet services

The University of Rwanda (UR),
Umutara Campus on Wednesday
started offering veterinary
services to farmers in Eastern
Province districts.
The outreach programme was
commissioned at an animal
surgical operation
demonstration conducted by the
university senior vets, in Kayonza
District.
According to the veterinarians,
the field services were initiated
to ensure that farmers within the
region get direct benefit of the
university in their midst and also
help students get hands on
training.
Dr. Benon Asiimwe, one of the
university vets, said that the
service provided students with
additional training in best
practices for management of a
wide variety of clinical cases,
noting that the on-farm services
was crucial for livestock farmers
in the province.
"Clinicians will work together to
provide services through the
field services programme. Our
veterinarians include those with
broad experience and expertise
as well as clinicians with species-
specific expertise. So, we expect
farmers in the province to
benefit," he said.
The university field services for
farmers are offered at relatively
low cost, while cows belonging
to the vulnerable groups are
treated freely.
Dr. Gerivazi Ndazigaruye, a
lecturer, urged farmers to take
advantage of the available
services to keep their animals
healthy.
"We have graduated over 200
veterinary students with enough
skills to help farmers. This service
is here to stay and we will be on
call for anyone who needs our
services," he said.
According to him, farmers under
the One Cow per Family initiative
will have their cows treated for
free, while for others, a major
surgical operation on a cow will
cost Rwf 15,000.
The team of doctors later
conducted an experimental
surgery to extract an imaginary
nail, accidentally swallowed by a
goat.
The exercise was witnessed by
hundreds of curious farmers,
who said that the university
services were timely.
Emmanuel Safari, a farmer told
The New Times that many of
them lose their cows or goats,
due to lack of access to
veterinary services.
"We must be headed for
sustainable farming...most
farmers are seasonal because
their animals die before they
make bigger steps in the
business. Cows die delivering,
when they swallow unwanted
objects, some get blind, etc. So,
the field services of the university
may be a solution," he said.
Eastern Province has the largest
population of cows in the
country.