Veterinary Field Units (VFU)

VFU (Veterinary Field Unit): A Veterinary Field Unit (VFU) is a small veterinary office or clinic located in a district to provide animal health care services to the farmers and animals of the nearby villages. Many of the VFUs are staffed by Para-Vets, while some also have the services of graduate veterinarians and/or assistant veterinarians.

AVA provides technical and practical training to para-vets, and helps equip VFUs with the initial equipment necessary to function. This may include a motorbike for transport to the field, solar refrigerator for proper cold storage of vaccines, basic veterinary equipment, and an initial supply of vaccines and medicine. AVA supports established VFUs by providing ongoing advice, training, monitoring of VFU activity and remaining a source to purchase vaccine and medicine.

Duties of VFUs: VFU staff provide vaccination, deworming, medical and surgical treatments to the district animals – at the VFU and in the field. They are responsible for reporting contagious disease outbreaks to government, and implementing sanitary mandates and prescribed control and treatment measures. VFUs work with local farmers to improve education about animal health and production methods, and educate them on the importance of using quality vaccines and medicine. In remote areas, Basic Veterinary Workers (BVW) may be trained to provide basic services if a Para-Vet or Veterinarian is not available. VFUs prepare and submit monthly reports of their activities to their Regional AVA office.

Privatization:The goal of the privatization process is for each VFU to become financially self sustaining, with pricing determined by the free market. After the initial support period, the VFU staff purchases vaccines and medicines which they sell to farmers and livestock owners. Farmers pay for services which increases the production of their animals, so that they are able to have a better living. In turn, the VFU staff earns an income that reflects the quality of services they provide, and the amount they are able and willing to work. Adding additional products and services allows the professional veterinary staff to improve their VFUs and have a higher level of income.