Cape Town, South Africa (April 19, 2024) – A new and groundbreaking global initiative will optimize livestock farmer and veterinarian partnerships to ensure the safety, security, and resiliency of the global food supply chain.

Announced today at the closing of the 39th annual World Veterinary Association Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, the innovative “Connected Care” Technology Program is a partnership between VetNOW and the Global Alliance for Livestock Medicines (GALVmed), which has received grants from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office.

The platform provides mobile-based support and enhanced communication between livestock farmers, veterinarians, and veterinary paraprofessionals (VPPs). With an initial focus on rural areas in Kenya, the platform gives farmers access to vital information regarding disease awareness, preventive care, record keeping, and regulatory compliance.

The first pilot program will launch in Kenya in August 2024, the beginning of a planned-for and ongoing country-by-country rollout throughout Africa.

GALVmed, based in the United Kingdom, is a not-for-profit organization involved in developing a portfolio of high impact livestock health products and initiating a range of private sector market initiatives in the small-scale producer sector.

VetNOW, based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (U.S.), is a leading digital health technology company focused on the global transformation of veterinary healthcare. It is dedicated to supporting farmers and small-scale livestock producers with improved access to best-available animal health services.

In order to facilitate faster adoption and deepen vital information-sharing, VetNOW has also partnered with the Africa Veterinary Technicians Association (AVTA) and the National Animal Disease Information Service (NADIS). AVTA promotes improved VPP practices for better animal care. The organization boasts 130,000 members in 18 African countries with approximately 11,000 based in Kenya. UK-based NADIS has a 30-year track record in disease surveillance and animal health Knowledge Transfer. It develops innovative IT solutions in response to animal challenges and focuses on improved animal health through disease prevention.

“The opportunity to equip and enable farmers, vets, and VPPs to achieve better results with healthier animals through affordable and easy-to-use technology drives our work,” said Dr. Apryle Horbal, founder and CEO, VetNOW. “We couldn’t be more pleased to partner with GALVmed, AVTA, and NADIS to achieve significant results in Kenya and scale quickly to meet the growing global demand for a safer and more sustainable food supply.”

Current estimates in Kenya alone underscore the pressing need. Only about 2,000 veterinary surgeons and 12,000 VPPs are available to service the needs of more than 7 million livestock farmers.

“GALVmed’s long-standing work on making livestock health products available and accessibleto small-scale producers will be massively accelerated through this productive partnership with VetNOW team of technology and animal-care experts,” said Enrique Hernández Pando, GALVmed’s Head of Commercial Development & Impact.

More information:
vetnow.com
www.galvmed.org

Editorial Contacts:
Tim Colbert
tcolbert@vetnow.com
201.284.9987

Beatrice Ouma
Beatrice.ouma@galvmed.org