A wake-up call for Uganda’s animal health sector amid the ongoing human health scandal

SPECIAL FEATURE | Dr. Justine Wobusobozi | The recent revelations about an innocent Ssemanda, a fraudster who posed as a doctor for over a decade, have sent shockwaves through our society. This shocking story is not only a black mark on the human health sector; it serves as a stark warning to the veterinary health supply chain, which may be even more vulnerable due to its limited resources and oversight.

Ssemanda’s case raises critical questions about the state of healthcare regulation in Uganda. If the human health sector, which operates with relatively more resources and attention, can be so easily infiltrated, what does that say about the animal health field? This should be a matter of great concern to all of us.

The dangers of infiltration

The infiltration of the human health sector by an individual with no professional credentials is a wake-up call for animal health in Uganda. The veterinary field is already grappling with significant challenges, including antimicrobial resistance, which largely stems from unregulated practices and the presence of unqualified staff posing as animal health professionals.

The consequences are dire. Practitioners, unregulated and operating in the shadows, can wreak havoc on animal welfare, public health and food safety. Poorly managed animal health practices can lead to disease outbreaks that threaten livestock populations, jeopardize farmers’ livelihoods and jeopardize food security.

In addition, unqualified individuals in the veterinary field pose a serious risk of spreading antimicrobial resistance, which is one of the most pressing threats we face today. Overuse or misuse of antibiotics for animal health not only affects the treated animals but also contributes to the global issue of antimicrobial resistance, which poses a direct threat to human health. The World Health Organization (WHO) has indicated that the rise of drug-resistant infections could reverse decades of progress in medicine and increase mortality.

The cost of inaction

If we fail to prioritize strengthening our veterinary supply chain, we risk a future characterized by deteriorating health conditions without clear diagnoses and treatment options. Every unregulated treatment and every unqualified practitioner contributes to the deterioration of animal health. When the conditions remain untreated, they can spread and affect not only animals but also humans.

The current situation is a ticking time bomb that threatens our food systems, public health and general economic stability.

Our life expectancy will decrease when preventable health problems claim lives that should have been saved through proper veterinary care and intervention.

This article is therefore a clarion call to authorities, stakeholders and every citizen: it is time to advocate for better oversight and regulation of the animal health field.

A call for regulation and education

Adequate training, certification, and rigorous monitoring should be implemented to ensure that those providing animal health care are truly qualified to do so.

Education and training programs should be established for animal health professionals, with a strong focus on ethical practices and the importance of adhering to professional standards.

Creating a regulatory framework that is robust and capable of adapting to new challenges is essential. This would not only strengthen the legitimacy of veterinarians but also increase public confidence in the animal health field.

Strategies for improvement

1. Implementing rigorous licensing requirements for all animal health professionals can help weed out unqualified individuals. Licensing bodies should be empowered to carry out regular audits and controls of veterinary practices.
2. Veterinary education institutions need to strengthen their curricula to incorporate real world applications.
3. Establishing an open system for reporting wrongdoing or fraudulent activities can help raise awareness and significantly reduce the incidence of quackery in the sector.
4. Strengthening partnerships between the human health and veterinary health sectors can facilitate the exchange of information, best practices and strategies to combat the spread of infectious diseases.

A vision for the future

Understanding that our animal health sector directly affects all of us individually, affects our communities and our nation at large, we must take decisive action. The current crisis gives us a unique opportunity to rethink and reform the veterinary supply chain. By investing in education, improving transparency and holding everyone accountable from practitioners to regulatory bodies, we can begin to rewrite the narrative of veterinary health in Uganda.

Let us not allow the story of Innocent Ssemanda to become insignificant, just a passing headline. Instead, let it serve as a powerful reminder that vigilance and action are paramount.

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Dr. Justine Wobusobozi – Veterinary Officer-Hoima District Local Government