This World Vet Day (29 April), international animal welfare charity Brooke is celebrating 10 years of its innovative Animal Health Mentoring Framework, responsible for the training of over 4,000 vets and animal health practitioners around the world.
The framework is a list of essential skills and capabilities developed by the charity to help animal health workers provide compassionate and competent care to animals. It was first developed by a group of Brooke vets 10 years ago, before being tested in Ethiopia, Kenya, Jordan and Pakistan. Today, it is used by vets across Brooke’s countries of operation, as well as universities and governments.
“When I think back to the start of my career, I remember the importance of having mentors around me who supported my development and pushed me to become the vet I am today,” said TV vet Scott Miller, who visited Pakistan with Brooke in 2005. “One of the many reasons I’m proud to support Brooke is because of the way in which the organisation empowers animal health workers in hard-to-reach areas so that animals can access the compassionate and high quality treatment they so deserve.”
Improving animal health and welfare
Vets and animal health practitioners play a vital role in supporting animals, owners and communities around the world. Unfortunately, many of them receive varying levels of training, which can lead to poor handling, incorrect diagnosis and spread of disease.
Unique to Brooke, this student-led technique has enabled the organisation to improve animal health and welfare in communities far beyond its own reach by strengthening existing systems and equipping workers with the skills they need.
“10 years ago, I was part of a group of vets from all over the world who took part in a workshop to start developing what was to become the Animal Health Mentoring Framework,” said Laura Skippen, Senior Manager, Global Animal Health at Brooke. “Today, I am proud to see the incredible impact it has had on animal health systems in Brooke’s countries of operation, supporting animal health practitioners to become capable and compassionate advocates for the welfare of working equids. All animals deserve high-quality healthcare wherever they are – the Framework takes us one step closer to making that a reality.”
Lead image by Bill Bradshaw
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