Veterinary surgeons cry for fair share of national cake

Accra, Nov. 21, GNA - The Ghana Veterinary Medical Association (GVMA) on Tuesday called for recognition of their contributions to the socio-economic development of the country.

"It is regrettable that despite the huge contributions to the national economy by the veterinary professionals, veterinary surgeons have not been given the necessary attention for their services and contribution to the development of society," Dr E. B. M. Koney, GVMA President, stated in Accra.

Dr Koney was addressing delegates at the 16th GVMA Congress and the Third Regional West Africa Commonwealth Veterinary Association Conference in Accra on the general theme: "Sustaining Livestock and Poultry Production at the Village Level: The Role of Women."

The Congress seeks to offer a platform for the veterinary professionals and national stakeholders to deliberate on the contribution of women to livestock and poultry production and identify the complementary role veterinary professionals play in enabling women to achieve such remarkable successes.

The five-day Congress was officially opened on behalf of the wife of the Vice President, Hajia Ramatu Mahama by Ms Anna Nyamekye, a Deputy Minister of Food and Agriculture.

Dr Koney expressed disquiet about logistical constraints, poor condition of service and emoluments, which, according to him, had contributed to the large exodus of veterinary professionals out of the country.

He said the recent scare of avian influenza (Bird Flu) in the country and the quick response of the veterinary surgeons in collaboration with the Government and other professionals clearly demonstrated the central role the veterinarian played not only in animal disease control, but also public health.

Dr Koney emphasised that even though the disease was never recorded in the country, the mere scare of the disease caused a tremendous socio-economic consequence especially within the poultry and the maize sub-sector.

Hajia Alima Mahama, Minister of Women and Children's Affairs, called on the Ministry of Food and Agriculture to use the national policy on public procurement to create a market for the livestock industry.

She said women played a vital role in the livestock industry from the domestic to the commercial level stressing that the livestock industry possessed the vital ground for reduction of poverty. "Poverty has a femininity face and the livestock industry could serve as an engine to reduce poverty especially among women in Ghana," she said.

Professor Kwesi Yankah, Pro-Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, who chaired the ceremony called on policy makers to redefine poverty.

He said when those in academia, politicians and Government officials talked about poverty it seemed they did not understand what it really meant, adding they should go to the rural areas to experience what it took for an old woman or man to go to bed only feeding on water. Prof Yankah said until politicians descended from their ivory towers, the talk about poverty reduction, poverty alleviation and other poverty reduction strategies would remain a mirage.