Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs) play very important role in ensuring good health and reproduction of animals so that animal production and productivity can increase, leading to an increase of community people’s nutrition and income. Meanwhile, their work also ensures the Passing on the Gift (POG) process of animals goes smoothly and on time.

To build capacity of CAHWs and make them confident in their work at communities, Heifer Cambodia provided a training course on animal health and production to 16 CAHWs who have been selected from communities where Heifer project are implemented. The training was conducted in Battambang province from August 30 to September 5, 2010. The seven-day training course aimed at providing basic knowledge of animal health and production to the participants.

Main topics of the course focused on the role of CAHWs in a community, pig and chicken management, and animal disease diagnoses. In addition to the topics, a subject on Training of Trainer (ToT) which would guide the participants to transfer their knowledge to Self-Help Group (SHG) members was also included in the course. The course provided not only lecture and theory, but also real practice. The participants visited a community managed by Heifer project partner, Aphiwat Satrey, for field practice by providing vaccination shots and operation to chickens and pigs. The participants also had a chance to learn new things and exchange experiences with each other.

Ms. Sok Kim, CAHW from Rural Children Saving Association, said, “After doing operations on pigs, I know that there are different layers of meat for surgery. Without the trainer’s assistance, I could not do it. Now I feel confident.”

The training not only provides basic knowledge on animal health and production to the CAHWs, but also gives them opportunities to build relationship and collaboration with government staff, in particular, provincial vets.

“I am very happy to cooperate with Heifer Cambodia and CAHWs because I can share and pass on my knowledge to new a generation,” said Ms. Sam Sukunthea, a trainer who is a veterinarian from Battambang Provincial Animal Health and Production Office.

Mr. Pang Kim Sour, a provincial vet who is another trainer of this course, said, “I am so happy to cooperate with Heifer Cambodia to provide the course because I am willing to share my knowledge and experiences to the community people. Actually, I spent a lot of time preparing lesson plans, materials, and methodology so that the participants are able to understand easily, as teaching community people [the CAHWs] is different from teaching students. They need more practices, time, and repeated explanation.”

After the training, the participants have more confidence and clear ideas on how to manage animals, provide treatment and vaccinations, perform diagnose on some specific animal diseases, including swine bleu-ear disease. They commit and bring the knowledge and experiences gained from the training to SHG members for sustainable animal management and animal POG.

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What is Heifer Project International (HPI)?

Heifer Project International is one of many non governmental organization involved in rural development around the world. It works at the grass-root by providing animals and training to organized local groups that request assistance.