SAVC: Newsletter 110

The New Rules

Council holds strategic planning session for 2022-2025 term p2

AHTs, get ready for a golden training opportunity p4

TOPS update: new regulations put on hold p5

Bird’s-eye view

Council holds strategic planning session for 2022-2025 term

Are you an unregistered AHT? Hurry to take advantage of our amnesty!

AHTs, get ready for golden training opportunity

TOPS update: new regulations put on hold

New para-vet rules set to be a game-changer for the professions

What’s the state of SA’s veterinary and para-veterinary industry? Here are some insights

SAVC lobbies Department of Home Affairs to put vets back on SA’s critical skills list

Celebrating laboratory animal technologists on their special day!

President’s message

Dear Registrees

Hello. How are you? This is me checking in.

Besides the tired phrase “compliments of the new year”, said at the beginning of every year when we meet, we forget to check in on each other regularly. So let me start by asking my fellow registrees: how are you?

The response, I know, might not always be that all is well, but here’s hoping you are in good spirits. If you are not feeling great, know that we care about you and you are not alone. We are going to expand the Council’s portfolio on health and mental well-being to improve how we look after our registrees – more details to be unveiled in the next newsletter.

We at the SAVC spent the past quarter developing a strategic road map to guide the Council during our three-year tenure. Since we were looking for a plan that has you at the centre of it, the session was facilitated by a veterinarian, Dr David Gerber, in order to retain the essence of whom we represent.

Read on for a summary of what was achieved. The essence of our vision remains the same but it has expanded to embrace and highlight para-veterinary professionals, as part of our inclusive culture.

Vision

To be the custodian of quality veterinary and para-veterinary standards.

Mission

Through the Act, our mission is to protect the interests of those dependent on animals by:

• Safeguarding the health and welfare of all animals and the environment

• Assuring veterinary public health

• Regulating the educational, ethical and clinical standards of the veterinary and para-veterinary professions

Values

• Accountability

• Integrity

• Dedication

• Caring

We spent a considerable time honing the values we wish to embody, and finally settled on the four alongside. We wish to be known as “the Caring Council”, while not neglecting our mandate to regulate all of the professions.

In that spirit, I wish to hear your views on how we can live up to these standards. During a recent Exco stakeholders’ engagement with the various professional associations, it was mentioned that the SAVC doesn’t provide registrees with adequate communication on its consultations.

We are looking for ideas to improve in this area, so please feel free to make suggestions on how we can best communicate the input we receive on matters we send out for public comment, be it reviews of legislation or amended regulations. Send your suggestions to systems@savc.org.za and also let us know how you envisage us living our values.

We realise the need to strengthen our relationship with all stakeholders, and to work with the government, veterinary and para-veterinary associations, veterinary education establishments, private facilities and industry around the following issues:

• Redefining critical and scarce skills for the profession and para-professions

• Ensuring compulsory community service (CCS) facilities are enabling and promoting the required training

• Working with provincial governments on veterinary laboratory accreditation as well as CCS facility inspection

We understand that our registrees are our main clients and customers, so we commit to service excellence and customer care, and to simplifying, streamlining and digitalising our processes.

Besides the above, the Council is working at full throttle: our round of committee meetings has commenced and we are increasingly visible at congresses.

That is all I have for you this quarter: the commitment to do better and be better, and to listen more.

Till the next time we engage.

Yours truly,

Dr Nandipha Toyota Ndudane President: SAVC

Council holds strategic planning session for 2022-2025 term

On 7 and 8 February 2023, the Council conducted a very successful strategic planning session for its current three-year term.

We updated the SAVC’s vision in line with our transformation objective to include the para-veterinary professions in the title of the South African Veterinary Professions Act, Act 19 of 1982.

Our vision now reads as follows:

The SAVC is the custodian of quality veterinary and para-veterinary standards in South Africa.

Our updated mission is:

To protect the interests of those dependent on animals by safeguarding the health and welfare of all animals and the environment; assuring veterinary public health; and regulating the educational, ethical and clinical standards of the veterinary and para-veterinary professions.

Our values are:

• Accountability

• Integrity

• Dedication

• Caring

Our four goals are:

• Transformation

• Service excellence and customer care

• Stakeholder engagements

• A digital SAVC

To ensure we achieve our transformation goals, a new ad hoc transformation committee will be established to focus on all issues related to transformation.

During this Council term, a compliance model will be drafted and rolled out as a special project. The issue of non-compliant registrees and facilities, and unregistered persons doing the work of registered veterinary and para-veterinary professionals, will be addressed insofar as the Council’s power stretches – bearing in mind that the successful outcome of a criminal prosecution lies in the hands of external bodies, which in this case are the South African Police Service and the National Prosecuting Authority.

We will also continue with monitoring subjects and standards of training at all educational institutions.

A wellness committee will be established to support our registrees and address their mental well-being.

We will continue to build relationships with the many stakeholders we work closely with, at all levels of the veterinary and para-veterinary industries.

We will continue with our annual registree survey, and therefore request that you participate. Your feedback is invaluable in finding gaps and helping us improve service delivery.

Be on the lookout for communication about the recently gazetted rules issued in accordance with legislation, which allow para-veterinary professionals to operate their own facilities (see page 6 in the newsletter for a snapshot of the new rules). The SAVC will conduct a workshop webinar for each para-veterinary profession in mid-April 2023 about the implications and benefits of the new rules.

An ongoing process will be ensuring that the SAVC has a completely integrated digital platform; we will be streamlining processes internally to shorten turnaround times and thereby improve our service delivery to you, our customers.

Consistent with our focus on transparency, we will continue to educate the public to help them understand the role of the Council vis-à-vis the veterinary and para-veterinary professions. We will also continue to send regular communications with important information as and when it becomes available.

Are you an unregistered AHT? Hurry to take advantage of our amnesty!

If you’re an unregistered animal health technician (AHT), or if your SAVC registration has lapsed, you have until 14 July 2023 to take advantage of our amnesty that will allow you to apply to register with us and be legally compliant.

Even if you have been practising as an unregistered AHT to date, you will not face any disciplinary and/or criminal action if you take advantage of this limited offer. Both employed and unemployed AHTs may apply.

You can apply for registration or re-registration with the SAVC if you:

• Are a qualified AHT, or

• Have passed the SAVC examinations

Keen to take advantage of this opportunity to get your registration up to date? Read more here, download the registration form, fill it in and email it to AHTamnesty@ savc.org.za.

AHTs, get ready for a golden training opportunity

The SAVC is partnering with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the European Commission for the Control of Foot-and-Mouth Disease on a pilot project to train animal health technicians (AHTs) in the Eastern Cape and North West in setting up sustainable businesses.

It is hoped that this will expand access to quality primary animal healthcare services to rural smallholder farmers in particular, while creating an income stream for unemployed AHTs.

The project is called “Sustainable Business in Animal Health Service Provision through Training for Veterinary Para-Professionals”, and will involve the training and capacitation of 50 AHTs at the Tsolo Agriculture and Rural Development Institute between April and August 2023.

Candidates were chosen through a process of application and vetting, and will be undergoing online learning, followed by face-to-face training in business skills and a clinical refresher course on the prevention and control of infectious diseases, and then a work placement.

This project also comes at a time when new rules relating to the AHTs have been promulgated, allowing them to practise for their own account, and register and run primary animal healthcare facilities (see article on page 6).

Wishing all the AHTs enrolled in this pilot project an enjoyable and productive experience!

Photos courtesy of Aphi Ndlovu

TOPS update: new regulations put on hold

We regret to inform our registrees that the amended Threatened or Protected Species (TOPS) regulations and list of species that were due to come into effect on 1 April 2023 have been withdrawn by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment.

The amended regulations were intended to make it easier for South Africa’s wildlife veterinarians to treat and transport TOPS-listed species that have been injured or wounded.

The new rules would have exempted veterinarians from needing permits to dart TOPS species for transport and treatment purposes, among other provisions.

The SAVC and the South African Veterinary Association have long lobbied to remove the red tape that has made it difficult for wildlife vets to treat and transport TOPS-listed wild animals because of restrictions on where they may operate.

However, Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA) brought an urgent application to interdict the department from implementing new TOPS regulations. The two parties reached a settlement that was made an order of the High Court, whereby the minister withdrew the regulations pending further consultation.

The Government Gazette notice to rescind the date that the new regulations come into effect may be viewed here

At this stage, we cannot say how long the delay will be in enacting the TOPS regulations but we will keep you informed of all developments.

Photos courtesy of Dr Andy Fraser

New para-vet rules set to be a game-changer for the professions

It is with great pleasure that we confirm that the new rules for our para-veterinary professions have been promulgated and took effect on 9 December 2022.

A source of particular pride is that animal health technicians (AHTs) may now open and run their own primary animal healthcare practices. We are confident this move will broaden access to primary healthcare services for animal owners and small-scale farmers in rural and underserviced areas, as well as creating much-needed new income streams for these professionals.

Furthermore, veterinary nurses may now also open their own practices, which we anticipate being largely in urban areas close to veterinary facilities that they will be contracted to. This is also excellent news, as it will enable vet nurses to offer recuperative and post-operative care to animal patients on their own premises, in consultation with veterinary surgeons.

The Council will be hosting workshops and webinars (which will later be available online) to unpack the implications of the updated and revised rules for each para-profession, including how to register para-veterinary facilities and what medications each para-professional may administer.

In the meantime, you can view the new rules here:

1. New rules for animal health technicians (AHTs): AHT rules

2. New rules for laboratory animal technologists (LATs): LAT rules

3. New rules for veterinary technologists: vet tech rules

4. New rules for veterinary nurses: vet nurse rules

Veterinary physiotherapy rules promulgated

The para-veterinary profession of veterinary physiotherapy is a relatively new one, and we are pleased to announce that the SAVC’s long-awaited rules relating to the practising of this profession in South Africa have been published in the Government Gazette and came into effect on 24 February 2023.

Those who are formally authorised by the Council to render veterinary physiotherapy services are now eligible to take the jurisprudence examination.

Here are the newly promulgated rules for the para-veterinary profession of veterinary physiotherapy

Photo courtesy of Kirsten Straszacker

What’s the state of SA’s veterinary and para-veterinary industry? Here are some insights

We are pleased to unveil the findings of the SAVC’s recent survey conducted by Marketing Surveys and Statistical Analysis, which will help us to identify the challenges and opportunities facing our veterinary and para-veterinary industries, and map a way forward.

The needs analysis, conducted between 2020 and 2022 and funded by the Health and Welfare Sector Education and Training Authority, surveyed the following groups, in addition to veterinary students and households with pets:

• 703 registered veterinarians

• 533 registered para-veterinarians

• 461 commercial farmers

• 241 emerging farmers and 274 small-scale farmers

“This survey provides us with a solid, evidence-based foundation for future decision-making and actions relating to our professions. This, in turn, will help us to identify gaps, and maintain and improve standards,” says SAVC president Dr Nandipha Ndudane.

“We are currently addressing a number of the issues that were raised in the survey, such as the need for transformation, the shortage of veterinarians, the need for mental health awareness and the limited access to primary animal healthcare by smallholder farmers in rural areas.”

Here are some of the findings:

Veterinarians

There was a general feeling among those canvassed that the veterinary industry needs to grow by creating more awareness of the value vets offer to society, and that it must explore synergistic partnerships with other industries and sectors.

Respondents also stated that the training opportunities available for would-be veterinarians, currently restricted to Onderstepoort, must be reassessed. One of the most important issues highlighted was that vets should be made aware of the importance of managing their work-life balance, and for enhanced awareness around mental health issues.

The vets surveyed were also mindful of the need to provide quality veterinary services in rural areas and to look closely at issues of affordability and socio-economic circumstances when providing care. Vitally, they emphasised that the profession needed a well-defined transformation strategy while being mindful of maintaining standards.

Para-veterinary professionals

The needs analysis revealed a strong desire among para-veterinary professionals to further their training and development. They are hungry for more career and professional growth opportunities.

Here, the SAVC, training institutions, the government and the various professional associations will need to play a role in elevating the future prospects of these para-veterinary professionals – such as animal health technicians, veterinary nurses, laboratory animal technologists, veterinary physiotherapists and veterinary technologists.

The research found that many para-veterinary professionals are eager to be afforded more independence and autonomy in their lines of work. They would also like to see the status of their professions being elevated in society and in the economy, and for this to translate into higher earning potential.

Critically, para-veterinary professionals believe that there should be a heightened awareness and visibility of who they are, what they do, the study opportunities available to them and how they add value to the community. They strongly advocate for a “matching service” to link para-veterinary professionals with job opportunities.

Commercial farmers

Most commercial farmers surveyed believe that veterinarians play an important role in ensuring food security, and have a positive opinion of vets (with 90% expressing great respect for them). They also agree that veterinary services help control zoonotic diseases (which spread between animals and humans) in South Africa.

However, while 71% of respondents have easy access to veterinary services in their area, most farmers treat their animals themselves – unless there is an emergency. They are generally well informed about animal diseases, and say they have sufficient access to livestock remedies and to scheduled medicines available on prescription.

Eighty percent of the farmers canvassed have livestock, and three-quarters believe there is no shortage of veterinary services in their areas. The 25% of respondents who are affected by perceived veterinarian shortages are principally mutton, goat, wool and mohair farmers.

Two areas of potential concern are that only 48% say that veterinarians charge reasonable rates for their services, and only between 35% and 46% believe that they need the services of animal health technicians. There is a need for more brand-building, communication and liaison between commercial farmers and the professions, it was found.

Emerging and small-scale farmers

One of the biggest challenges facing up-and-coming and small-scale farmers is their lack of agricultural training, the survey found, with more than three-quarters of respondents expressing a need for more education in this regard.

These households are mainly isiXhosa-, isiZulu- and Setswana-speaking, and have limited income from pensions, grants and full-time and part-time work, which they use as a platform to embark on farming activities.

More of these farmers (45%) are aware of state veterinary services in their area than are aware of veterinary clinics (39%) and community veterinary clinics (26%).

Of some concern is that a third of respondents do not use veterinary services at all. However, half rely on advice from fellow farmers on how to maintain healthy herds, and most are aware of the need to isolate livestock or consult veterinary professionals in case of disease. Only 10% do not have preventative plans in place to ensure healthy livestock.

South Africa’s livestock farming sector is estimated as being home to 13.1-million cattle and 19.7-million sheep, roughly a third of which are owned by emerging and small-scale farmers. Such insights will help the industry to tailor more effective veterinary interventions and services for all farmers.

Photo courtesy of Mpumalanga State Veterinary Services

SAVC lobbies home affairs to put vets back on SA’s critical skills list

The SAVC is aware of the recent widespread news coverage about the number of veterinarians leaving the country, meaning South Africa faces a potential skills crisis. We would like to assure our registrees that we are lobbying on your behalf to have vets reinstated on the Department of Home Affairs’ critical skills list.

A survey by the South African Veterinary Association found that a fifth of the vets aged 25 to 29 polled intended to emigrate. Our own records show that we are losing up to 150 vets a year to emigration. This is raising alarm bells in a country that has only 60 to 70 vets per million citizens, already far below the international norm of 200 to 400 vets per million.

While we need to look at retention strategies and accrediting more tertiary education facilities to offer veterinary science, the SAVC is also formally lobbying the department on behalf of veterinary and para-veterinary professionals to urgently relook at the critical skills list. This is not only so that South Africa can meet its animal healthcare needs in the future, but also to ensure food safety and security.

The removal of vets and veterinary nurses from the critical skills list in February 2022 makes it harder for foreign vets to obtain a work visa for South Africa.

Photo courtesy of West Acres Animal Hospital

Veterinarians who qualify in the United Kingdom or Australasia may practise here without having to write our exams, but first have to perform a year’s compulsory community service (CCS) through the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development once they have registered with the SAVC.

Furthermore, the Council is of the view that because international veterinary students studying here pay full, unsubsidised tuition fees, they should be exempted from CCS, as there is no “debt” repayable to the South African taxpayer. The necessary amendments to the CCS regulations are under discussion with the Department of Agriculture, Land Reform and Rural Development.

In both cases, qualified and student vets will inevitably run into difficulties obtaining work permits and posts in South Africa because their skills are not listed as being scarce.

All of this makes it incredibly difficult for foreign vets and students to come to South Africa to add capacity to our veterinary profession.

It is for this reason that the SAVC continues to engage with government departments to reassess the critical skills list and to exempt foreign vets and students from having to perform CCS, making it easier for them to come and work here. We undertake to keep our registrees updated on any progress made in this regard.

Reminder about the certification of African horse sickness vaccinations for movement control purposes: https://mailchi.mp/savc/savc-dalrrd-reminder-letter-regarding-certification-of-ahs-vaccination-for-ahs-movement-control-purposes

Alert about the theft of Euthanaze (Pentobarbital) and Propofol: https:// mailchi.mp/savc/savc-alert-pta-and-jhb-veterinarians-veterinary-nurses-theftof-euthanaze-and-propofol

Update about the outbreak and surveillance of foot-and-mouth disease: https://mailchi.mp/savc/savc-nahf-fmd-update-and-surveillance

Way forward on the shortage of critical vaccine: https://mailchi.mp/savc/savcnahf-joint-press-release-shortage-of-critical-vaccine

Reminder: let us know if your contact details change or if you aren’t receiving our mailers!

Missed any of our mailers? Here’s a recap

Celebrating laboratory animal technologists on their special day!

On 1 February 2023 South Africa celebrated Laboratory Animal Technologist Day, shining a well-deserved spotlight on these hard-working para-veterinary professionals.

Laboratory animal technologists (LATs) are vital cogs in the process of medical and scientific research, and are responsible for promoting animal health in the course of their work.

They take a solemn oath to practise their profession with honesty and integrity, upholding high professional and scientific standards. We appreciate LATs’ valuable contribution to research!

Profession days and special days to celebrate in 2023

PROFESSION

DATE

1. Laboratory Animal Technologist Day Wednesday, 1 February 2023

2. Veterinary Technologist Day Sunday, 23 April 2023

3. World Veterinary Day Saturday, 29 April 2023 (last Saturday of April)

(Theme for 2023: Promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness in the Veterinary Profession)

4. Animal Health Technician Day Friday, 15 September 2023

5.

Rabies Day Thursday, 28 September 2023 6.

Animal Day Wednesday, 4 October 2023 7.

13 October 2023 (second Friday of October)

3 November 2023

4 November 2023

The SAVC is conducting a workshop webinar for each para-veterinary profession in mid-April 2023 about the implications and benefits of the new rules.

The webinars will take place between 17 and 24 April 2023, and recordings will be available on www.savclive.co.za afterwards to view.

The topics and dates for this year’s “How do I …” webinars will be made available soon. If you have any suggestions for topics that you would like more information on, please submit these to systems@savc.org.za

Join our upcoming webinars Take our survey, so we can improve our service

Every once in a while, the SAVC conducts a survey among its registrees. The Council does this in order to gather useful information that we can use to improve our service to you.

Previous research has provided valuable insights into how we can enhance our services to the veterinary and para-veterinary professions and animal health industry. So, after the Council’s recent strategic planning session, we have identified additional information needed to reach the goals we have set for our three-year term.

We would like to thank everyone who has participated in our surveys in the past. Please keep an eye on your inbox for our latest survey, and take a few minutes to complete it.

Branches

Southern Cape – TBC

Free State and Northern Cape – 2 to 3 September 2023

Groups

Ruminant Veterinary Association of South Africa/ Southern African Society for Veterinary Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine – 8 May 2023

Save the dates for these congresses! Follow the SAVC on social media

#DidYouKnow that we share interesting, informative and useful content for the professions on our social media pages? We also post job vacancies, to help our community of registrees find their dream jobs.

If you’d like to keep up with what’s happening in South Africa’s veterinary and para-veterinary professions, join our SAVC online community by following us on these platforms:

https://www.facebook.com/SAVCPretoria

https://www.linkedin.com/company/savc-south-african-veterinary-council/

In memoriam

The SAVC is saddened to learn of the passing of the following registrees, and we extend our heartfelt condolences to their bereaved families and loved ones:

• Dr Ramoni Joubert

• Dr Maurice Azzie

• Dr Sandra Maureen Waddingham

• Dr Peter Henry Bunton

• Dr Mogamad Natheem Jacobs

• Dr Ian William Espie

• Dr Brian de Burgh Baker

• Dr Jan Harm Steenekamp

Thank you for serving the professions with distinction. May your valuable contributions to ensuring the continued strength of our animal healthcare sector be an enduring legacy.

Our ducks in a row ...

Contact us!

Please consult the infographic below to find the correct person at the SAVC to contact for your specific query. This will enable us to assist you more efficiently and quickly.

Systems&Design

Systems & Design systems@savc.org.za – all queries relating to IT systems and support, technical queries on registree portal, CPD portal, annual declaration, website, newsletter, advertising, marketing and PR

Finance & Office Support debtorclerk@savc.org.za – invoices, maintenance fees, payment-related matters director.finance@savc.org.za – special dispensation, all finance-related matters meetings@savc.org.za – committee meetings, queries relating to meetings with the SAVC president, registrar, Executive Committee

Education edu.coordinator@savc.org.za – information on and applications for Council Registration Examination, applications for specialist peer review, CPD provider queries, accreditation of CPD events, individual application for allocation of CPD points director.education@savc.org.za – all education-related matters

Registration authorise@savc.org.za – authorisation matters admin@savc.org.za – facility inspections, community engagements, queries facilities@savc.org.za – registration of facilities, change of facility, principal queries registration2@savc.org.za – registrations, letters of good Standing, confirmation of registration, general queries relating to re-registration student.registration@savc.org.za – registration of students, inscriptions, critical skills letters queries cpd@savc.org.za – CPD audit & CPD cycle queries director.registrations@savc.org.za – all general queries relating to registrations, facilities, inspections and authorisation matters

Legal legalsecretary@savc.org.za – general legal queries complaints@savc.org.za – lodging complaints, investigation matters director.legalaffairs@savc.org.za – all legal matters, legislation & policy queries

Registrar’s Office Legal Registration

Education

Finance & Office Support

SAVC Administration Team Structure

Struggling with stress and anxiety? Help is at hand

Stress, depression and burnout affect our veterinary and para-veterinary professionals at the best of times, but the added pressure of the fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic, coupled with the snowball effects of inflation and an unsteady economy, have all made an already bad situation even worse for many of us.

Recently, research by the Cornell Center for Veterinary Business and Entrepreneurship in the United States estimated that workplace burnout is costing the veterinary industry $2-billion a year.

Researchers say it is critical to demonstrate the financial implications of burnout on the industry so that steps can be taken to urgently address mental health concerns among veterinary professionals.

The World Health Organization defines burnout as a syndrome resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed.

If you are experiencing any form of mental health distress, we at the SAVC urge you to contact us for assistance. We are here to listen to you and help wherever we can.

Sister Erika Bornman

(SAVC portfolio: Members with dependency, stress-related and other problems/difficulties)

Email address: erikavetnurse@gmail.com

Or contact the South African Depression and Anxiety Group for confidential assistance

Alternatively, contact the SAVA Stress Management Hotline: https://www.sava.co.za/sava-stress-management-hotline/

To replay our wellness webinar, “How do I … thrive instead of just surviving?”, click here: https://savclive.co.za/how-do-i-webinars-2022/

Photo by Matthew Henry on Unsplash

Mission

The SAVC protects the interests of those dependent on animals by:

Safeguarding the health and welfare of all animals and the environment

Assuring veterinary public health

Regulating the educational, ethical and clinical standards of the veterinary and para-veterinary professions

Disclaimer

The South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) shall not be liable for any loss due to advertisements published in its newsletters. The advertisements represent the products of the advertisers only. The SAVC does not accept liability for the information or advice contained in the advertisements or for any loss arising from the use of the products advertised. By placing the advertisements, the SAVC in no way endorses the product or content of the advertisement.

www.savc.org.za

26 Victoria Link Street, Route 21 Corporate Park, Nellmapius Drive, Irene, Gauteng, South Africa