SSAHATI 1996 - 2004

General context

Operation Lifeline Sudan (OLS) started in 1989 as a response to the devastating famine in war-torn Southern Sudan that led to the death of thousands of people. Participatory Rural Appraisal carried out by UNICEF and other OLS organisations since 1989 revealed that the major constraint to survival cited by agro-pastoral communities is the loss of livestock and livestock production through livestock disease, particularly rinderpest. As a result of these findings UNICEF/OLS began a veterinary programme that was intended to bring relief to the local populations through an immediate impact on food security. From this initial relief aid, which focused mainly on the control and eradication of Rinderpest, the programme soon expanded into a community based animal health service (CBAHP).

In Bahr el Ghazal and Upper Nile the estimated human population is 3,670,000 and in these regions the communities are predominantly Nuer and Dinka agro-pastoralists.The cattle population is estimated at 3.2 million, with 6.6 million goats and sheep. In Eastern Equatoria, the population is also agro-pastoral and comprises a number of ethnic groups. Western Equatoria is a more agriculture based region though poultry and other small livestock are kept by many households. The estimated human population in Equatoria is 1,667,000 with 0.5 million of cattle, 1 million sheep and goats and 2 million chickens.

Specific constraints

As the OLS CBAHP expanded it became clear that a new generation of veterinary coordinators and supervisors with updated knowledge and skills was needed to strengthen the indigenous management of the programme, and eventually replace the older Sudanese veterinary staff. To answer to this need VSFB started training institutes for AHA’s and stockpersons to establish this next level of animal health workers. Training is provided for students from all areas of Southern Sudan and all livestock NGO projects. A need for high level cadre of animal health worker was identified through stakeholders workshops in 2002. This level of animal health workers is known as veterinary assistant and will train at the SSAHATI for two year diploma course. They will fill the gap between county coordinator and chief coordinator.

Objectives

To increase the house holds food security for agro-pastoralist communities in southern Sudan during and after the current civil war, through improved access to livestock and their products. Specific objectives are:

1. Through training to support a viable community based animal health service to control epizootic diseases and provide surveillance information for epizootic disease control in particular Rinderpest.
2. To support the establishment of a private veterinary sector through development and use of training packages.

 Activities

1. Community Workshops
2. Five months Animal Health Auxiliary Training Course
3. The current AHA curriculum covers six modules: Anatomy and physiology, Animal Health, Animal Production, Community Development, Management, Basics subjects (English, mathematics and public health)
4. Animal Health Auxiliary Refresher Training Courses (2 months duration)
5. Short Focused Training Courses by Mobile Teams
6. Five month Stockperson Training Course (20 students)
7. Stockperson Refresher Training Course (20 students duration 2 months)
8. M & E of Animal Health Workers’ Field Performance though field visits by VSF B staff
9. Development of Training Curricula and production of AHA Training Manual
10. Provide Work Experience for Sudanese Animal Health Personal and Graduates
11. Management of the CBAHP in Akop Payam, Tonj County
12. Livestock Vaccinations in Akop Payam, Tonj County

Beneficiaries

The project aims to assist war-affected communities in all regions of southern Sudan, where communities own or depend on livestock products for part of their dietary requirements.

The SSAHATI (Southern Sudan Animal Health Auxiliary Training Institute) assists livestock owners and their families across all areas of southern Sudan. It has provided training to 315 Sudanese (210 AHAs, 80 Stockpersons and 25 Veterinary Assistants) from all regions of southern Sudan. These animal health personnel are supporting 2010 Community Animal Health Workers and over 750,000 livestock-owning families.