Integration of Equine specific syllabus into AHTCS’s VAHW curriculum

Integration of Equine specific syllabus into AHTCS’s VAHW curriculum

Since its inception in 2000, AHTCS has been delivering Village Animal Health Worker’s (VAHW) training, a government-certified 35-days-long program, to ensure the accessibility of timely, quality animal healthcare services in rural communities. To date, the organisation has produced more than 2000 VAHWs who are actively providing basic veterinary treatment services all over Nepal.

Equine-specific subjects have been overlooked in major university degrees and vocational courses in Nepal. AHTCS, being a pioneer organisation working in the sector of equine welfare in Nepal, acknowledged the need and incorporated equine-specific content in the VAHW curriculum from FY 2022/23 with approval from the Nepal Government. Equine-related topics like equine behavior, handling and restraining, clinical techniques, husbandry practices (housing, nutrition, hoof care, etc.), and common diseases and their treatment/management constitute the additional 12 credit hours of the revised VAHW curriculum. Since then, 6 batches of 148 participants ranging from the Terai belt to Himalayas have received the revised training. The AHTCS-trained VAHWs from SEWP command districts (Banke, Bardiya, and Dang) are connected to the Equine project and mobilized during community engagement and other project activities to strengthen their network in the communities. This strategic approach aims to ensure the gradual transfer of ownership and sustainably enhance equine welfare in Nepal.