MEDIA RELEASE – 15 February 2019
BSAVA gives free library access to vets in developing nations
Vets in developing nations can now access free educational resources from the British Small Animal Veterinary Association’s online library.
Vets working and training in countries with limited resources, where conditions are challenging or training is expensive, can now access the BSAVA’s ‘Foundation Collection’, via a partnership with WSAVA, the WSAVA Foundation, and FECAVA.
More than 70 items of content are available for free, including articles, lectures and book chapters, covering a variety of topics such as management of infectious diseases, basic handling skills, working on a budget and emergency triage.
Countries set to benefit include WSAVA’s list of tier 1 member associations which also includes some FECAVA member associations: Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Cambodia, Georgia, Indonesia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Venezuela, Vietnam and Zimbabwe. It also includes some African countries, including Ghana, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria and Zambia, which have joined WSAVA as Associate members through their participation in the WSAVA Foundation’s AFSCAN project. Veterinarians in Uganda and Tanzania will also benefit through their participation in AFSCAN.
Nicolette Hayward, of BSAVA International Affairs Committee said the altruistic gesture aims to help the global veterinary profession: “Our mission is to promote excellence in small animal practice through education and science, so we are delighted to work with WSAVA, the WSAVA Foundation and FECAVA to share these high quality resources to the veterinary profession in low and middle income countries.”
Lawson Cairns is a Scottish vet involved in welfare and education in Africa as part of his role of WSAVA CE Coordinator for Africa. He has lived and worked in South Africa for many years and said: “The welfare of animals is our primary concern and we are making steady (but slow) progress, so maintaining the impetus we have managed to create is very important; these resources will be a vital contribution which we hope to facilitate on a face-to-face basis, I would like to express a very big thank-you for your continuing support.”
Klajdi Nallbani, WSAVA representative for Albania said: “The opportunity to have access to the BSAVA library is very useful, for me it is the most wanted library that every veterinarian should have to access, and I think it could make a helpful difference in Albania.”
The content will be available via the WSAVA website (www.wsava.org) , a new WSAVA Foundation website which is nearing completion (www.wsavafoundation.org) and the Vetlexicon website (www.vetstream.com/vetlexicon), and can be accessed by clicking on banners that are only visible to vets from the above countries.
ENDS
Notes to Editors
BSAVA
The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) exists to promote excellence in small animal practice through education and science. BSAVA is a not-for-profit professional body, founded in 1957 to serve veterinary surgeons treating companion animals, and now includes veterinary nurses. BSAVA has over 11,000 members, the majority work in practice as veterinary surgeons or veterinary nurses. www.bsava.com
Contact BSAVA: PR & Communications Office, press@bsava.com or call 01452 726729.
WSAVA
The WSAVA works to enhance the clinical care of companion animals globally, representing more than 200,000 veterinarians around the world through 110 member associations. Its core activities include the creation of Global Guidelines which set standards for veterinary care and providing continuing education (CE) and other educational resources for its members, particularly those in countries in which companion animal veterinary care is still emerging.
The AFSCAN project
The AFSCAN project was developed by the WSAVA Foundation with the backing of the global animal health company Zoetis, global veterinary equipment company KRUUSE and a Consortium of other supporters. Its Project Board is chaired by Dr Gabriel Varga, President of the WSAVA Foundation and Director at Zoetis and includes Emeritus Professor Michael Day (WSAVA); Dr Theo Kanellos (Zoetis); Dr Remo Lobetti (referral practitioner, South Africa); Dr Kevin Stevens (practitioner, South Africa) and Dr Patrick Bastiaensen (OIE).
FECAVA
The Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations (FECAVA) represents more than 25,000 companion animal veterinarians in 40 European countries. It is the platform for the promotion of professional development and the representation of companion animal veterinarians in Europe.