60 vet doctors swear in to start their professional activities

By Elias Hakizimana.

Fourty-four men and sixteen women veterinary doctors who recently graduated have sworn in to start their professional activities under the Rwanda Council of Veterinary Doctors (RCVD).

The ceremony took place at RCVD headquarters in Kacyiru, Kigali on October 29, 2021 and was presided by the council.

The new vet doctors were explained much about the council from its background to the current situation and urged to comply with professional discipline and ethics to be able to contribute to the national development through efficient, accurate and transparent service delivery.

Speaking to the press during the event, Dr. Marie Claire Tumusabe, the vice chairperson of RCVD said that the ceremony aimed at briefing veterinary doctors about the laws governing the profession.

“We need to comply with laws in place in order to boost professionalism. By doing this, we expect successful service delivery from veterinary doctors to farmers.” Tumusabe said.

She advised farmers to keep in mind that no veterinary doctor is allowed to treat their animals without presenting a license with their photo to identify them and ensure they are real professionals.

“It was found that some people call themselves veterinary doctors and they are the ones who act unprofessionally. We encourage farmers to note this and be carefully. It is their rights to first ask for the license.” Tumusabe added.

Doctor Fabrice Ndayisenga, Head of Department Animal Resources Research and Technology Transfer in Rwanda Agriculture and Animal Resources Board (RAB) said that the sector lacked veterinary professionals since a couple of years, noting that the new 60 veterinary doctors who are joining will help to boost animal health by assisting farmers in terms of animal diseases’ treatment.

“What we expect from these veterinary doctors is efficient and timely service delivery to farmers.” He noted.

Vet doctors speak

Eugene Tewizeyimana, a veterinary doctor among those who sworn in requested the government to capacitate private veterinary doctors with necessary kits to ensure efficient diagnostic animal health treatment.

Sylvus Nshimiyimana, the representative of the promotion of 2021 vet doctors who made their oath said that this ceremony helps to always remember what they committed in front of the council’s senior management so that they comply with ethics while on duty.

“We commit to work by respecting farmers’ interests by sustaining what our senior professionals achieved.” He said.

Aline Mujawayezu, another veterinary doctor who graduated at University of Rwanda’s Nyagatrare campus encourages girls to join the profession as it is important. She said that people who think that women and girls are not capable to perform veterinary medicine can change that mindset. “We are going to change that mindset that girls and women cannot do veterinary medicine.” She said.

Since its establishment, RCVD has registered 4,000 veterinary doctors and many of them work as private veterinary professionals.