[7/11/2026 6:54 AM] Jarso Molu: WEEKLY WORK REPORT: SUPPORTING ANIMAL
HEALTH INTERVENTIONS IN OROMIA REGION
Project Title: Supporting Animal Health Interventions to Mitigate the Negative Impacts of the
Anticipated Drought on Pastoral and Agropastoral Livelihoods in Oromia Region of Ethiopia
Project Code: OSRO/ETH/149/BEL
Implementing Partner: VSF-Suisse
Donor: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
Reporting Period: Week ending July 12, 2026
1. Executive Summary
During the reporting period of July 7 to July 10, 2026, VSF-Suisse, in coordination with the
Zonal and district agricultural offices, conducted two comprehensive capacity-building
initiatives. These activities are central to the strategy of mitigating the adverse effects of drought
on pastoral and agropastoral communities in the Oromia region. The interventions focused on
strengthening the technical competencies of district-level animal health staff and community-
based health workers (CAHWs) to ensure robust disease surveillance and timely response in
potentially affected areas.
2. Animal Assistants Capacity Building Training
As part of the project’s commitment to improving frontline veterinary services, VSF-Suisse
Borana field office successfully facilitated a four-day training program for Animal Assistants
from the Dhas, Moyale, and Miyo districts. The training, held from July 7–10, 2026, served to
professionalize the response mechanisms available to local agriculture offices.
2.1 Participant Demographics
Total engagement across the three districts was 30 participants, distributed as follows:
- Dhas District: 10 participants (8 male, 2 female)
- Moyale District: 10 participants (8 male, 2 female)
- Miyo District: 10 participants (5 male, 5 female)
2.2 Training Scope
The curriculum was developed to address critical gaps in local veterinary logistics and clinical
practices. Primary topics included:
- Protocols for vaccine handling and the management of large-scale vaccination campaigns.
- Implementation of Animal Health Extension Packages.
- Veterinary public health standards and the monitoring of zoonotic diseases within farm animal
populations.
- Standard operating procedures for disease reporting, systematic health monitoring, and
essential surgical procedures.
- Data management and accurate disease record-keeping, which are essential for long-term health
planning.
3. Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) Refresher Training
Parallel to the Animal Assistants training, VSF-Suisse conducted a refresher course for
Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs), who represent the primary interface between
pastoral communities and institutional animal health services. This refresher program, also held
from July 7–10, 2026, aimed to reinforce existing knowledge while introducing modern
diagnostic and prophylactic methodologies.
3.1 Participant Demographics
Total participation for the CAHW cohort consisted of 49 individuals:
- Dhas District: 15 participants (12 male, 3 female)
- Moyale District: 17 participants (15 male, 2 female)
- Miyo District: 17 participants (12 male, 5 female)
3.2 Training Content
The curriculum was strategically designed to enhance the effectiveness of CAHWs in the field,
covering:
- Identification of common livestock diseases and their biological causes.
- Mechanisms of disease transmission and modern prevention and control strategies.
- Field-level diagnosis and treatment protocols.
- Best practices for the pharmaceutical administration of veterinary drugs, including dosage
accuracy and safety standards.
- Storage and handling requirements for veterinary products, specifically vaccines, to ensure
efficacy in challenging field temperatures.
4. Methodology and Instructional Quality
VSF-Suisse utilized a multi-faceted pedagogical approach to ensure learning retention among
both cohorts. The training method relied on:
[7/11/2026 6:54 AM] Jarso Molu: - Interactive group discussions aided by practical flip charts.
- Plenary sessions to synthesize knowledge and build consensus on best practices.
- Technical presentations utilizing multimedia aids, including diagnostic imagery and video
demonstrations illustrating clinical case studies of both healthy and infected animals. This visual
approach was particularly beneficial for the practical application of diagnostic skills and
vaccination administration.
5. Trainer Profiles
Quality assurance was maintained through the engagement of highly qualified instructors. The
training teams were comprised of seasoned veterinarians (DVMs) drawn from the Borana and
East Borana Agriculture offices and the Yabelo Regional Veterinary Laboratory. All trainers
were selected based on their deep regional expertise and their previous successful completion of
'Training of Trainers' (TOT) programs in specialized veterinary disciplines, ensuring a high
standard of technical knowledge transfer.
6. Conclusion and Strategic Outlook
These interventions represent a critical component of the OSRO/ETH/149/BEL project. By
investing in the physical capacity of agricultural offices and the knowledge base of local
CAHWs, VSF-Suisse is establishing a more resilient barrier against the impacts of drought. The
immediate next steps involve monitoring the application of these new skills in the field to assess
how these training sessions translate into improved herd health and increased community
protection against zoonotic threats as the dry season progresses.