During a ceremony marking the 110th anniversary of the veterinary services in Mauritius and World Veterinarians Day, Minister of Agro-Industry Mahen Seeruttun revealed a concerning statistic.
He pointed out that there are only 17 personnel in the entire veterinary service, and not all of them are qualified, as some are administrative staff.
With such a limited number of staff, the minister mentioned that it is a challenge for the Ministry of Agro-Industry to provide services throughout the country.
This is compounded by the fact that most qualified veterinarians prefer to work in the private sector.
Mauritius is one of the few countries in the world, if not the only one, where the state offers free veterinary services to all livestock breeders.
However, if there is not enough personnel, the services will be affected.
The minister highlighted past efforts to attract veterinarians to the public service and mentioned ongoing recruitment exercises.
He also emphasized the importance of collaboration with private veterinarians, especially during crises like the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak.
Seeruttun called on private veterinarians to assist when needed and thanked those who have responded to the country’s calls for help.
He also discussed a strategic plan for 2024-2030 and emphasized the need for improved communication between livestock breeders and ministry technicians using modern technology.
Livestock breeders also requested access to training that would allow them to provide basic care to their animals before the veterinarian arrives.
The minister has asked the ministry to update and implement such a training program, addressing the concerns raised by the breeders.
Source: l’Express
