Community based animal health care
Practical Action
• The vastness and the remoteness of the areas and the sparse human population density;
• Poor infrastructure
• Poverty. Charges were unaffordable and / or the value of the animal was not worth
investment
• Insecurity
• Fewer veterinary staff due to non-recruitment by the government as a result of Structural
Adjustment Programs (SAPs).
• Veterinarians unwilling to work in remote areas.
• Phasing out of the Junior Animal Health Assistants following the move by the government
to give the livestock keepers greater control of their resources
• Poor distribution of veterinarians, many of whom lack the initial capital that is necessary
for the establishment of private services
• Nomadism.
The absence of veterinary services led to the development of community-based animal health
care.
The historical development of Community-based Animal Health Care (CAHC)
Community-based animal health care (CAHC) was introduced in Kenya in 1986. This was
adopted from experiences in both Nepal and India.
Intermediate Technology Development Group Eastern Africa (ITDG- EA) in partnership with
other development agencies initiated several CBAHC projects in the chronological order, as
shown in table 1 bellow.
To date over 14 organizations have started CBHC projects in East Africa on the ITDG’s
experience and other development agencies.
Table 1: Chronological Development of some CBAHC projects and organization involved
YEAR ORGANIZATION / PROGRAM
LOCATION
COUNTRY
1986 Catholic Diocese of Meru / ITDG EA
Meru District
Kenya
1987
1989
1992
1993
Catholic Diocese of Kitale
Oxfam and ITDG EA
ASAL program
Trans Mara development program (TDP)
funded by GTZ
Marsabit Development Program (MDP)
funded by GTZ
Pokot District
Baragoi division
Kajiado District
Transmara District
Marsabit District
Kenya
Kenya
Kenya
Kenya
Kenya
1994
1995
ITDG EA
IFSP-E funded by GTZ
IFSP-E funded by GTZ
Taita-Taveta ASAL Program
1996
1997
District Rural Development Program
(DRDP)
GoK and University of Nairobi
Vet Aid, Tanzania
ITDG EA
Kathekani in Makueni
Mwingi District
Makindu in Makueni
District
Taita-Taveta District
Kahama, Biharamulo
Kibwezi in Makueni
district
Simanjaro Arusha
Tharaka in Tharaka-
Nithi district
Kenya
Kenya
Kenya
Kenya
Tanzania
Kenya
Tanzania
Kenya
1999 IFSP-E funded by GAA
Source: Community-Based Animal Health Care in East Africa
Makueni district
Kenya
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