Severe shortage of vaccination personnel for the livestock sector

The lack of a village animal health system leaves local governments struggling

According to Mr. Ngo Van Ngoc, Director of the Agricultural Services Center in An Nhon town, Binh Dinh province, the local government in An Nhon town organized the second round of foot-and-mouth disease vaccination for a total of 35,000 cattle from September 15 to October 15, 2023.

The Agricultural Services Center in An Nhon town had previously established a comprehensive animal health workforce at a village level. Accordingly, nearly 80 of the 108 villages in An Nhon town have an  animal health workforce at the village level.

This workforce consists of individuals who are closely connected to livestock farming households in their respective areas, allowing them to closely monitor the state of livestock and disease outbreaks. Their responsibilities include monitoring and reporting on the state of livestock and disease in the local livestock population to higher-level animal health agencies.

Thanks to the system, the province has ensured timely response and containment of disease outbreaks, preventing widespread transmission. These animal health personnel also play a crucial role in facilitating regular vaccination campaigns, thereby maintaining high vaccination coverage. Despite receiving minimal financial support of only 200,000 VND per person per month for village animal health activities, their contribution to disease control has been significant, ensuring the stable development of the livestock sector.

However, during the second round of foot-and-mouth disease vaccination in 2023, the village-level animal health workforce was abolished in Binh Dinh province, including An Nhon town. This shortage of workforce has caused great difficulties in the deployment of local vaccination campaigns.

"During this second round of foot-and-mouth disease vaccination in 2023, the village-level animal health workforce is no longer participating, as they were disbanded after September 1, 2023. Consequently, we have proposed to An Nhon town People's Committee to issue guidelines for mobilizing private animal health practitioners in the communes, wards, and villages within the town's jurisdiction.

Private animal health practitioners in the villages will collaborate with the communal animal health staff to carry out vaccination activities in their respective areas. We have also suggested the town's People's Committee to allocate additional funding to support the participation of private animal health practitioners in vaccination activities, with the aim of ensuring the success of the second vaccination round," stated Mr. Ngo Van Ngoc.

Supplementing the village animal health services

According to Mr. Huynh Ngoc Diep, Director of Binh Dinh province's Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health, the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development issued Circular No. 29/2016/TT-BNNPTNT on August 5, 2016, which provides regulations for the standards of local animal health staff. Accordingly, Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee issued Decision No. 52/2023/QD-UBND dated August 21, 2023 regarding the restructuring and consolidation of the communal-level animal health in the province. Under this decision, each commune will appoint one animal health officer responsible for the local livestock sector.

According to Decision No. 52, the allowance for communal-level animal health staff has been increased markedly. The communal-level animal health staff previously received a monthly allowance at a rate of 1 times the current basic salary. However, under the new decision, they will receive an allowance at a rate of 1.3 times the current basic salary and will be entitled to 100% health insurance coverage as stipulated and supported by the provincial budget. Additionally, communal-level animal health staff will receive specialized training and professional development.

According to Mr. Diep, at present, the village animal health system in Binh Dinh province no longer exists as stipulated under Decision No. 26/2006/QD-UBND dated August 10, 2006, by Binh Dinh Provincial People's Committee regarding the project to streamline the organization of grassroots animal health network.

However, the local Department of Livestock Production and Animal Health has provided guidance to the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development with regards to disease prevention in livestock and poultry in areas lacking an animal health workforce. According to this guidance, local governments must integrate the responsibility for livestock and poultry disease prevention with the activities of private animal health practitioners.

Under the Law on Animal Health, private animal health practitioners must provide information and act under the direction of the local government. As a result, Binh Dinh province's Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has instructed local agencies to establish groups of collaborators, with responsibilities shared between these groups and the village animal health workforce in the management of livestock and poultry farming and disease prevention within their respective areas.