Category: News

The Director of the Department of Livestock successfully completed a five-day official tour to Gelephu and Dagana Dzongkhags. During the visit to Gelephu, the Director met with the second cohort of para-veterinary professionals undergoing a refresher course. She formally graced the closing of their training session, acknowledging their efforts and encouraging continued professional development. Additionally, she inaugurated the third cohort of the para-veterinary paraprofessional training, marking the commencement of their learning journey.

While in Gelephu, the Director also visited the National Centre for Aquaculture and the Regional Veterinary Hospital and Epidemiology Centre (RVHEC) in Gelephu, where she met with the staff and reviewed ongoing activities. She visited the new dog shelter construction site and the turkey farm in Relangthang. The Director also met with the staff of the National Poultry Development Centre to discuss current operations and future plans.

Following her engagements in Gelephu, the Director proceeded to Dagana Dzongkhag, where she held meetings with the Dzongkhag Livestock Sector staff. She also visited local farmers, taking time to interact with them and understand their experiences, challenges, and aspirations. A key part of her visit included a focused session with the technical staff of the Dzongkhag Livestock Sector, where she was briefed on the sector’s key achievements. The Director commended the progress made and shared her insights on the way forward.

The Director expressed heartfelt appreciation for the contributions made by the Dagana Dzongkhag Livestock Sector (DLS), emphasizing the importance of aligning both individual and collective efforts with the broader sectoral goals. She advocated for the successful implementation of the 13th Five Year Plan, with a particular focus on enhancing economic development alongside ensuring food and nutrition security. Furthermore, she highlighted the importance of setting personal and professional goals, staying motivated, and demonstrating resilience in the face of challenges. She also underscored the need for maintaining high standards and professionalism in the execution of duties, reinforcing the sector’s commitment to excellence and service delivery.

The tour concluded with a brief visit to the Sturgeon Farm facility at Harachu.

𝟮𝟱𝘁𝗵 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱, 𝗚𝗲𝗹𝗲𝗽𝗵𝘂: As a part of Pandemic Fund Project in Bhutan, the Department of Livestock (DoL) in collaboration with the United Nation Food and Agriculture Organization in Bhutan, is conducting a six-day refresher training program for field veterinary paraprofessionals from the western and west-central regions of the country. The training, scheduled from March 24 to March 29, 2025, in Gelephu, covers veterinary paraprofessionals from 11 districts. A total of 63 veterinary paraprofessionals posted at Geog Livestock Extension Centres, District Veterinary Hospitals, National Veterinary Hospital, central programs and government farms are participating in this training program. This initiative marks the second batch of training, following the successful completion of the training for first batch held from January 6 to January 11, 2025, in Phuentsholing.

With the rapid advancements in veterinary medicine, continuous learning and upskilling are crucial for field veterinary paraprofessionals. However, limited funding for continuous professional development has posed challenges. This refresher training aims to address these gaps, ensuring that veterinary paraprofessionals stay updated on emerging trends and best practices.

The refresher training program will cover key areas essential for improving animal health services in the country, focusing on Veterinary Preventive and Clinical Medicine, Clinical Case Management, Veterinary Microbiology, Animal Welfare, Biosecurity and Biosafety, common Surgical Procedures, and Disease Prevention and Control Strategies.

A combination of theoretical and practical approaches is adopted for this training program to ensure comprehensive learning. Theoretical sessions consist of lectures on critical veterinary topics, while practical sessions will provide hands-on training in modern techniques and best practices. Additionally, interactive discussions, case studies and problem-solving exercises, are included to enhance participant engagement. To assess learning outcomes, a pre-training and post-training test is being conducted.

By the end of the training, participants are expected to have upgraded skills and knowledge, leading to enhanced efficiency in animal health service delivery. This initiative aims to strengthen delivery of critical veterinary services in the field, ultimately enhancing the standards of both animal health care and public health in Bhutan.