What is AFSCAN?

BACKGROUND

AFSCAN focuses on enhancing companion animal veterinary care across Africa through the creation of a sustainable veterinary network for Africa.

AFSCAN’s four  elements are:

Growth in small companion animal business as a result of economic changes. Challenges in the region:

  • Several great projects – isolated
  • Need for structured/sustainable approach
  • Medical training and scientific research opportunities
  • Communication among practitioners/groups

KEY FOCUS

Establish a sustainable network of centres of excellence and local Small Animal Veterinary Associations

Ensure a long term partnership and presence in the countries by “hanging” projects onto the network

Respond to local needs by establishing and supporting a networked community

Co-develop activities to support sustainable solutions

Companion veterinary care in Africa – The challenge and the opportunity

Africa is the world’s second largest continent and contains some of the fastest growing countries in the world. Unfortunately it is also plagued by many of the world’s most dangerous diseases and, while veterinarians work hard, their numbers are few, they are geographically isolated and they are often held back by a lack of training, CE and support. Therefore urgent help is needed to drive advances in veterinary care for all species to improve the health and welfare of both animals and humans.

Veterinarians working in Eastern Europe faced similar challenges following the fall of the Iron Curtain. Several countries and leaders in companion animal medicine stepped in to support individuals and local groups with the setting up of veterinary associations that provided a focal point for the sustainable development of veterinary practice in their countries. As a result, veterinary care in the region progressed in leaps and bounds.

Inspired by this example, the African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN) Project now aims to achieve similar results in Africa. The challenge is great but so is the opportunity to transform and move the companion veterinary care in Africa to a higher level and, in so doing, improve the lives of millions of animals and humans.

The AFSCAN Team – bringing global perspectives and knowledge to ensure success

AFSCAN is led by the WSAVA Foundation, the charitable foundation of the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA). Its goal is to fund improvements in the veterinary care of companion animals worldwide through science and education. The WSAVA is an umbrella organisation representing 145,000 veterinarians globally through 115 member associations.

The AFSCAN Board is led by Dr Gabriel Varga.

AFSCAN – harnessing experience to drive progress across the continent

Led by the WSAVA Foundation, AFSCAN is a ground-breaking project running, in the first instance, from April 2014 until April 2016. It is supported by a Consortium and by the global animal health company Zoetis.

AFSCAN’s goal is to support small animal veterinarians across Africa by harnessing global support to help create the local associations and networks which will ultimately help to advance the veterinary profession across the continent in a sustainable way. It will achieve this by initiating activities in key areas including:

  • Offering grant funding for specific veterinary projects and establishing links between African veterinary researchers and those in institutions in American or European countries.
  • Increasing support for and co-ordination of rabies control projects and setting up new projects.
  • The expansion of training and CE programmes for veterinarians and other veterinary professionals.
  • The support of surveillance systems to monitor infectious and parasitic diseases in companion animals.
  • The quest for new funding opportunities and co-operation with current and future Consortium members.