Note Education and Research in the Field of Veterinary Public Health Knowledge and Experience Gained through International Cooperation in Zambia Takao FUJIKURA ABSTRACT The author had a chance to participate in the project-type technical cooperation of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), The University of Zambia Veterinary Education Project Phase 2. The author's major tasks were to support and contribute to education and research in the field of veterinary public health as well as to cooperate and actively participate in the promotion of extension activities that are closely related to the above-mentioned subject. Lecturer in the Faculty of Biological Production Science, Hiroshima University
In the undergraduate program, the existing curricula were reorganized and strengthened by combining urgent and important subjects, taking into consideration the socio-economic and cultural development in Zambia and southern African countries at present and in the near future.these scientific curricula included communicable diseases common to man and animals (zoonoses), food hygiene, environmental health, emergency veterinary medicine, rodent ecology and rat elimination, handling of animal waste and carcasses, prevention and first aid for animal bites and insect stings, veterinary medicine in the conservation of nature, social veterinary medicine and veterinary public health in traditional farming communities, biohazard in endemic areas, disinfestation in contaminated areas, wildlife veterinary medicine and ethics in animal experiments. In the graduate program, the author provided two Master's students with guidance in research. The research subjects included: 1) the dynamics of bovine tubercle bacillus (Mycobacterium bovis) in sour milk, which is commonly made by a traditional method in areas where bovine tuberculosis is rampant; and 2) the application of the hazard analysis critical control point (HACCP) system, aimed at establishing slaughterhouse hygiene. As to research activities, we conducted: 1) observations and research in dog ecology with a view to preventing and controlling rabies in traditional farming areas; 2) observations and research in environmental contamination by Bacillus anthracis in anthrax endemic areas; and 3) research in veterinary public health in traditional farming areas. These were the most important research subjects in the field of veterinary public health in Zambia. The extension activities included: establishing the publication of the Zambian Journal of Veterinary Science; hosting workshops on rabies control; attending international conferences in southern African countries concerning the formation of a veterinary diagnostics network; assuming the role of external examiner in two faculties of veterinary medicine in South Africa; and drafting guidelines on the use of animal experiment facilities at the university. Based on these achievements, each counterpart scientist of the School of Veterinary Medicine at University of Zambia is expected to develop the education, research and extension activities in close collaboration with the scientists in southern African countries according to medium-/long-term plans to improve public health in the community, and productivity in livestock production in Zambia as well as southern African countries.
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