Namibia

AFSCAN Ambassador

Dr Alexandra Marko (AFSCAN Ambassador) – weckimarko@icloud.com

Dr Andrea Klingelhöfer (VAN Secretary) – secretary@van.org.na

The Veterinary Association of Namibia (VAN) is a member association of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) in 2015. VAN was originally founded under the south west African branch of the Veterinary Association of South Africa in 1947. However, in 1984 this branch was dissolved and VAN was founded. Now the association organizes regular annual scientific congresses and weekend CPD events for all members.

News

AFSCAN in Namibia

By Dr Alexandra Marko

It is a great privilege for the Veterinary Association of Namibia to be part of the AFSCAN initiative under the very efficient leadership of Dr Gabriel Varga. The Veterinary Association of Namibia (VAN) was established as a branch of the SAVA in 1947. Since 1987 we have our own association, VAN. Namibia is a very arid country with a small population; our association has 120 members today, although only a small percentage is actively involved in small companion animal practice. One of the main initiatives of VAN is the promotion of Continuous Professional Development, which we establish with the support of AFSCAN, WSAVA and our neighbouring South African colleagues as well as our partners in industry.

The major initiative revitalised and supported by AFSCAN in Namibia is the Rabies Eradication Scheme under the very professional and experienced guidance of Dr Luke Gamble from Mission Rabies. His experiences in India, Malawi and other countries with similar projects are of incredible value, which we can utilise without reinventing the wheel again. He paid a very intensive visit to Namibia to experience our local situation and start the planning of the Rabies Eradication Project. Luke is since then actively involved in the planning and preparation of the project. The veterinary profession in Namibia is proud that AFSCAN has selected Namibia as the first country where the Rabies eradication will be launched under the AFSCAN umbrella. The rabies project will be launched in the Namibian hotspot area, which is in the central northern Namibia, where the greatest density of human as well as dog populations and the highest incidence of canine and human rabies exists.

Unfortunately this project has currently suffered a setback as a result of an outbreak of Foot and Mouth disease in the same northern area, the first outbreak in the last 50 years. The FMD outbreak can have a disastrous economic impact on Namibia if not contained and extinguished in the area of the current outbreak. It is a huge burden on the whole Directorate of Veterinary Services, which needs their full attention at this stage. This has unfortunately delayed the start of the Rabies project, but the project will be implemented as soon as practically possible.

VAN (https://www.van.org.na/ )