Benefits of Entrenching Animal Disaster Management and Livestock Emergency Guidelines Standards (LEGS) Courses into the Veterinary Curriculum: Case study of the University of Nairobi, Kenya

Mutembei HM*, T Wangare¹, J Kimaru, N deSouza, CM Mulei and PMF Mbithi

 

Research Paper I Published December,2015

 

Journal of Agricultural Science and Food Technology  Vol. 1 (7), pp.101-106

 

 

ABSTRACT

 

Disaster-vulnerable communities are mostly those reliant on livestock. Disasters causing loss of livestock often leave a secondary legacy of economic instability, debt and dependency in addition to immediate devastation of food insecurity and loss of human life. It is prudent to build capacity as a strategy to manage and mitigate these type of disasters. A 4-year program for capacity building on animal disaster management was instituted at the faculty of veterinary medicine in University of Nairobi to evaluate its benefits. The program was evaluated through monitoring and evaluation tools and a post-program knowledge, attitudes and practices survey. Stakeholders (270 students) were interviewed during the program period and others (n=110) after the program period in the process of the review of the veterinary curriculum. A total of 184 students and 12 lecturers were trained on disaster management modules, 200 trainees on livestock emergency guideline standards (LEGS), and two lecturers as LEGS trainers. Over 60% of those interviewed were aware the programs existed and over 70% indicated the program had benefits (n = 380). The stakeholders significantly (n= 270, P = 0.01; n=110, P = 0.02) indicated the need to entrench the disaster management and LEGS courses into the veterinary curriculum. A cost-benefit analysis of the veterinary response unit disaster intervention activity demonstrated generated benefits of $2.74 in the form of avoided animal losses for every $1 spent. If the time period was extended to 3 and 5 years, the benefit-cost ratio increased to $6.69 and $ 9.21, respectively, in benefits for every $1 spent. These results demonstrate there are benefits of entrenching the courses into the veterinary curriculum and a recommendation is made for the inclusion of the courses in all curricula lacking the courses.

Key Words: Animal management, Benefit, disaster, Livestock and University curricula.
 

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