Veterinary paraprofessionals and community animal health workers in Tanzania

Abstract

To address the economic hardships of the 1980‟s, Tanzania under pressure from its development partners both bilateral and multilateral embarked on structural adjustment program. In the case of veterinary services delivery systems reforms were advocated founded on privatisation and liberalisation. The government abruptly withdrew from providing clinical services, retrenched a substantial number of paraprofessionals and their training sponsorship was withdrawn. The gap created has not been bridged by the private sector which to date is limited to a few major urbanised foci. Rural producers have been the mostly affected by these reforms. The response has been to try and create a new cadre in the delivery of veterinary services and a reduced emphasis on the role of paraprofessionals. The roles of this new cadre commonly referred to as the community based animal health workers (CAHWs) and paraprofessionals are reviewed. We conclude that before any new cadre is introduced in the delivery system, technical and socio-economic sustainability issues should be researched. Furthermore we advocate that the role of paraprofessionals in the private sector and rural areas should be re-examined. Keywords : CAHW, Tanzania, paraprofessionals, animal health services Tanzania Vet Journal Vol. 25 (2) 2008: pp. 121-131