What the new rules for animal health technicians in South Africa mean for AHTs and farmers

Hello and welcome to today’s program, discussing the new rules governing the work of animal health technicians in South Africa, also referred to as para-veterinarians.

In this radio script, we will hear from five resource persons who explain how the recent rule changes are expected to affect the work of animal health technicians in the country. We will also hear how this change is expected to affect farmers. We speak to two animal health technicians, Christian Nithianandham, based in KwaZulu Natal, and Neeve Andrews, based in Johannesburg, who has recently opened a primary animal health care facility after the change in the rules. In addition, we will speak with Dr Johan Oosthuizen, Senior Advisor with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, also called FAO. Dr Oosthuizen has played a vital role in the development of the new rules. We will also speak with Norah Mlondobozi, a farmer and member of the Rural Women’s Assembly in South Africa. And we have comments from Dinamarie Stoltz, the Director of Legal Affairs for the South African Veterinary Council.

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Welcome, Christian. Thank you for making time to speak to us today.

Thank you so much for having me.

The recent changes in the rules governing the work of animal health technicians in South Africa must be an important development in your career as an AHT. What was your first reaction to the change in the rules?

I have been waiting for the rules to change from the time I enrolled to study animal health. I kept hoping that the rules would one day change and that we would be able to use our skills to the best of our abilities without being restricted to working for the state or under a veterinarian.
While the prospect of getting employment as an animal health technician for government was ideal, I wanted to be able to work on my own and to put all of my training to practice helping disadvantaged farmers.

What do these rules mean for you as an animal health technician?

This change means that I can provide preventative or primary animal health care services for animals. I can be of use to farmers, especially in rural areas where most farmers can hardly get the services of a veterinarian. Previously, I would have to be under the employ of a veterinarian or government. However, while this is great news, it will come with many challenges.l>

What are some of the challenges you foresee?

There are many challenges we need to overcome. While the rules state that we can practice independently, we can’t do everything independently. There are services we still have to refer to veterinarians, such as diagnosis. There is also the issue of the rules related to our private places of work. Our primary animal health care facilities have to meet certain minimum standards, so we will need to put some money into setting up. Not everyone is going to be able to immediately open one. There are also other issues to consider, such as the issue of power outages, which we experience on a daily basis in the country. We have to keep vaccines and medicine at a particular temperature, meaning we have to have backup systems in place for when the power goes out.

Do you think understanding your scope of practice— meaning what animal health technicians can and cannot do—is an issue for AHTs and for some of your clients?

Yes, we need to consider compliance with the scope of practice and whether farmers understand what we can and cannot do. When farmers see an animal health technician, they see a veterinarian. And as much you explain the difference, it doesn’t make much sense to them. They don’t care much about your scope of practice; they just want their animal saved. Helping them understand this is going to be a challenge, and so is the issue of being paid fairly for our services. Because there is a shortage of animal health technicians employed by government, farmers have gotten used to finding other ways of dealing with animal health issues.

Can you please describe some of the challenges you think you are likely to face, especially in light of your comment about farmers finding other ways of dealing with animal health challenges?

Some of the challenges we are going to face include the wide use of what I call master farmers, who are trusted because of their knowledge. There are also veterinary product shops where a salesperson gives the farmer a possible diagnosis based on the symptoms described by the farmer. Both these situations make it easy for farmers to believe they have no need for AHTs.
Also, there are animal health technicians employed by the government who are already practicing in their own capacity without having acquired the legal right to practice independently. They are already well known in their areas, but work under the radar to avoid sanctions from the national veterinary council. AHTs are going to be competing with those people.

Thank you for speaking to us, Christian. We are now going to hear from Neeve Andrews, an AHT who recently opened an animal health facility in Johannesburg.

Congratulations on your new venture. What made you decide to open the facility?

I have always wanted to be a veterinarian and decided to study animal health by correspondence so I could work and study at the same time in order to pay for my studies. And my goal is to still become a veterinarian. What excites me about the change in rules is that they make it possible for AHTs to open their own facilities, and that opens up many job opportunities.

How long did it take you to open the new facility and what were some of the challenges?

It didn’t take me long to get everything set up. After finding out about the change in the rules last year, I got a loan. The rules on what I needed to do to get set up were clear and I was also able to consult the South African Veterinary Council if I needed further clarity. Everything has been up and running since June 2023.

What challenges would you say still exist for AHTs, especially women AHTs?

I personally have not had a lot of challenges yet because I worked under a veterinarian before opening my facility. I have not yet worked in rural settings as there aren’t any farming communities near me. I’m hoping to expand to the Northwest where there are a lot of farming communities. I think it is particularly challenging for women since the field is still male-dominated. Even my name still gets mistaken for a man’s name. The farming community is still also largely dominated by men.

What’s your understanding regarding the rules and your scope of practice as AHTs?

I think the rules are simple. We are responsible to provide primary animal health care services. I think it is important for us to adhere to the rules and to be strict in following them, and to be honest and ethical. Our contribution to our profession as AHTs is to look out for the physical and emotional well-being of animals and people. If an AHT has any issues, it is wise to always consult council for assistance. They always give me the best support theypossiblycan.

Next up, we will speak to Norah Mlondobozi from the Rural Women’s Assembly, who is also a farmer. What are your thoughts about the recent change in the rules governing the work of AHTs?

The rules are not in favour of small livestock farmers, especially women inruralareas. We fear they might make life a bit difficult for farmers. While AHTs will be readily available, farmers are now going to be paying for the services and this might be expensive. AHTs might be forced to charge fees close to those charged by veterinarians, because they will want to keep their facilities running. We also don’t know if government will then reduce access to government AHTs. They are already way too few, and we think the situation might become worse.

What is the current situation when it comes to the accessibility of animal health services in your community?

At the moment, it is difficult for us to get the assistance of AHTs in my province of Limpopo. They are often on the lookout for cases that are of national importance such as the spread of foot and mouth disease or other diseases. If you have an animal that is sick in the community in my area, your animal dies without being seen by either an AHT or a veterinarian. We are told that there is a shortage of both and that there is no budget to hire more.

Do you think there is a clear understanding of the AHTs’ scope of practice within the farming community?

No, I don’t think so. I think for most farmers, it is only important that there should be someone there to save their animals. They don’t interact with the rules or what they know to be the scope of practice for those offering services.

To further discuss these issues, we have Dr. Johan Oosthuizen, a senior advisor with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, or FAO, who helped develop the new rules for animal health technicians.

Dr. Oosthuizen, it’s a pleasure to have you here. Can you give us an overview of the journey you’ve been through in creating these new rules?

Thank you for having me. It’s been quite a remarkable journey over the past 25 years working on the development of these new rules for AHTs. At the outset, we faced significant resistance, particularly from private sector veterinarians who were concerned that remote work by AHTs working independently might draw clients away from them. But we’ve been actively demonstrating that AHTs can provide crucial services to underserved communities.

With the recent changes, can you tell us about the progress made in terms of AHTs setting up their businesses?

The new rules were just implemented in December 2022. Since then, one AHT has registered and established a business. At the same time, we’re engaged in an FAO project to train 48 unemployed AHTs, and we’re reaching out to experienced veterinarians and AHTs to act as mentors and supervisors for these trainees.

How are you preparing AHTs for the responsibilities of running their own primary animal health care facilities?

It’s clear that the current educational curriculum for AHTs lacks thorough training in business management as well as preventative animal health care. To address this gap, we’ve developed specialized modules that focus on essential business and other related and much-needed skills. Our program guides them in building sustainable business models, which is a critical aspect of ensuring that their businesses last. This helps them step into a role that their basic training might not have prepared them for, and it’s particularly important because AHTs are often trained for government positions rather than business ventures.

Do farmers have a clear understanding of the new rules and the role of AHTs?

Presently, there’s limited awareness among farmers about the new rules and the potential benefits of working with AHTs. AHTs are equipped to offer essential services that can contribute to animal health and preventive care, without requiring other professionals to be involved.

Could you provide a broader perspective on how these rules could impact the farming community?

The South African farming landscape includes around 14 million cattle, split between commercial farms and small-scale community farmers. These small-scale farmers primarily rear cattle for their own consumption and cultural activities. Our goal is to encourage these farmers to transition into commercial farming, which would lead to increased production and economic contributions. When AHTs work closely with these farmers, they have an opportunity to share critical information and practices that can drive this transition.

How significant is the government’s role in facilitating this transition?

Government involvement is crucial for a successful transition. Veterinary services used to be a national responsibility, but now they are handled at the provincial level. This decentralized approach can lead to discrepancies in the availability of services and of standards. We’re working to ensure that the new rules are consistently implemented across provinces and that AHTs are effectively integrated into communities and farms.

What benefits can farmers expect from increased access to AHTs?

Veterinarians have extensive training, which understandably comes along with higher costs for their services. But AHTs can offer most of the primary but essential services at a more affordable rate due to their focused training. This doesn’t compromise quality, as they provide basic yet effective care. By having AHTs accessible in various areas, underserved communities can receive necessary animal health services.

What steps should AHTs take to capitalize on the recent rule changes?

AHTs should start by registering their primary animal health care with the South African Veterinary Council and establishing their services as per the guidelines and regulations for their profession. They must remember that their success is based not only on their technical skills, but also on their ability to operate within the legal framework and maintain high standards.

Dr. Oosthuizen, we heard one farmer expressing her fears about the challenges that the new rules might pose for farmers. She mentioned their fears around costs as well as concerns about government likely reducing the number of AHTs currently servicing the farming and rural community. Can you please share your thoughts around these concerns?

I appreciate your concerns and questions regarding the potential impacts of the new regulations for animal health technicians on the cost of services and the role of government. The aim of the new AHT regulations is to provide farmers with more accessible and cost-effective animal health services, services that are conveniently located near their residences or farming operations. The regulations aim to make it easier for farmers to access vital services without incurring excessive costs.

The government has historically provided a basic level of veterinary service to rural or communal farmers, but its primary focus has been on preventing and controlling certain important controlled diseases and safeguarding the nation against diseases of national significance.

Introducing AHTs to the landscape aims to complement this effort and bridge the gap in animal health services. As the veterinary industry evolves, the government’s role may evolve as well. The government’s focus may shift towards concentrating on preventing and managing controlled diseases, while private veterinary services will take on a more comprehensive role in addressing non-controlled diseases and aspects of animal production.

We received a statement from the South African Veterinary Council, who were not able to join us in this program. In the statement, Dinamarie Stoltz, the Director of Legal Affairs, said that the council has set up a whistle blowing app to report unregistered veterinary and para-veterinary workers who continue to put the lives of animals at risk.

In the statement, the council advises clients to report any unlawful behaviour by practitioners and people posing as practitioners.

According to the statement, the council is concerned about the growing incidence of unregistered individuals delivering veterinary and para-veterinary services—not just laypersons but also professionals who have been removed from the South African Veterinary Council register because they haven’t paid their annual maintenance fees—and those working from unregistered premises.

We have come to the end of our program. Thank you for listening. In today’s program, we heard from our guests how the changes in the rules governing the work of animal health technicians are expected to affect both AHTs and their clients, especially farmers in rural communities. Christian Nithianandham and Neeve Andrews are AHTs in different parts of South Africa who told us about their experiences as well as their expectations since the rules governing their profession were altered. We also heard from Dr. Johan Oosthuizen, who is in charge of a program that prepares AHTs to operate under the new guidelines. Norah Mlondobozi of the Rural Women’s Assembly, who is also a farmer in Limpopo, told us about the concerns in the farming community about the new rules for AHTs.

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