Supporting Agency: Heifer International Nepal (HPI/N)
Implementing Partners: Animal Health Training and Consultancy Service (AHTCS)
Duration: 2006-2011
Theme: Improved Healthcare System and Management Practices
Sub Sectors: Village animal Health Worker’s production and capacity enhancement, Community mobilization, Veterinary Service Provision, Animal Management and Husbandry practices, Community participation, Farmer’s Field School, Training and Extension, Community awareness
Catchment areas: Kaski, Baglung, Parbat, Tanahu, Lamjung, Palpa, Rupandehi, Banke, Bardiya, Dang, Salyan, Pyuthan and Rolpa
Project Description
Strengthening Animal Health and Management Project (SAMP)
Strengthening Animal Health and Management Project (SAMP), financially supported by Heifer International USA/Nepal (HPI/N), held the objective of capacity building of the Village Animal Health Worker’s (VAHW) to enhance the overall productivity of the livestock reared by the members in Self Help Groups (SHGs) of HPI/N catchment communities. SAMP is the continuation of the previous project started in 2004 at Pokhara region. From 2004-2011, AHTCS, in coordination with respective HPI/N partner organizations, endorsed multiple phases of SAMP across the various districts of Nepal including Kaski, Baglung, Parbat, Tanahu, Lamjung, Palpa, Rupandehi, Banke, Bardiya, Dang, Salyan, Pyuthan and Rolpa. Major components of the initiative included monitoring and evaluation of the VAHWs, mentoring and guidance of VAHWs, Improved Animal management trainings, Animal selection and breed improvement, Mobile vet services and Periodic animal health camps, Need based capacity building trainings to VAHWs, Periodic review, reflection and experience sharing platform as well as guidance on Farmers Field School (FFS).
Key Interventions and Impact:
- 178 VAHWs across various districts were monitored and mentored throughout the project tenure and beyond leading to enhanced competency and confident in undertaking their assigned responsibilities
- 72% of the VAHWs are actively providing animal healthcare services in their respective communities
- Improved and systematic service delivery mechanism; increased accessibility, prompt availability, drugs availability, quality treatment and consultancy, pragmatic client dealing as well as scientific record keeping system
- Medicine stock maintained by trained VAHWs has increased; 58% of the VAHWs have doubled their medicine stock
- 65% of the farmers in the project command communities have improved sheds
- Considerable increase in adoption of mineral block feeding practice in the communities
- Established regular deworming and vaccination practices among the farmers
- 19 trained VAHWs initiated and are engaged in various commercial livestock avenues including goat, swine and poultry farming.