The importance of animal wealth in the Indian economy is well known. Animal holders, usually small and marginal farmers and agrarians, depend for their animal production problems on field veterinarians, mostly in Government or Cooperative Sector, where these services are either free or at nominal charges. Thus, qualified and practicing veterinarians in the field are the potential leaders, who can guide the farming community in the promotion of animal wealth. Many of these veterinarians are working in remote places.

It is essential to update the knowledge and skills of veterinarians and apply it for better production from animals and increasing the income of animal holders. This, in routine, is not possible due to financial crunch and inability of the learner to be absent from his job for a long period to attend face-to-face learning courses.

Open and Distance Learning, through Information and Communication Technology (ICT), has proved as very promising and useful in education. To plan for this approach, the learning needs of the field veterinarians, with the support from Commonwealth of Learning, Vancouver, Canada, a survey was undertaken. The participants/ veterinarians showed lot of interest and enthusiasm in training and refreshing and updating their knowledge. Though a new concept, they showed their willingness to accept almost any course through distance learning.

ODL has opened a new avenue in enhancing the knowledge and skills of field veterinarians without disturbing their routine. This will help the field veterinarians and ultimately the animal holders.
 

The Commonwealth Of Learning (COL) is an International organization created by Commonwealth Heads of Government to encourage the development and sharing of open learning and distance education resources and technologies. It promotes, supports, advances and enriches the practice of distance and open learning commonwealth-wide. It continues to achieve this through advocacy, advisories, training, providing information, strengthening institutions, model building, consultation, conference, professional development, policy support, partnership brokering and networking.

In the first phase of project, more than 200 veterinarians are registered for two courses and about 150 have completed these courses successfully in year 2004. The course material is in the form of Interactive CD-ROM. The course is for one trimester, of one credit each. Additionally, hard copy of guidelines of the course is also provided. It is on the frameworks of MS-CIT course.

 

All the efforts are made to make the courses very simple and attractive with the help and advice of renowned ICT Veterinarian Expert Dr. Ajit Maru, Ex. Research Officer, ISNAR and presently consultant to COL. This is a unique opportunity, offered for the first time in India. Plans are to develop many more courses in the similar manner.

 

The course contents are developed in such a way that learner spends 2-3 hours per week on the course. Three Face-to-Face sessions would be held on Sunday or public holidays. At the beginning, there will be an introductory session, wherein the details of the courses will be provided. Contact number, Emails/FAX etc. of the Course Facilitators, will also be provided and queries would be replied. There would be a mid term examination, for the course, at the end of six week and final examination at the end of 13th week. Minimum 50% marks are required for passing.
 

The assessment of the courses prepared was done by Dr. Maru by face to face sessions with participants and stake holders and found that the courses were very useful in the field and also are of high scientific quality.

 

Following courses developed by Bombay Veterinary College :
1. Post Mortem Examination of Domestic Animals
2. Diagnosis of Parasitic Diseases
3. Techniques in Small Animal Surgery - I
4. Techniques in Large Animal Surgery - I

 

 

OUTLINE OF THE COURSES

 

1. Post Mortem Examination of Domestic Animals

This course material is designed so familiarize the learner with post mortem techniques and he would be able to perform the post-mortem systematically, collect and dispatch the appropriate samples and write a report properly and handling of veterolegal cases.

The course has 10 modules with several sub modules with enough information of various infectious and non infectious diseases and various abnormalities observed in animals. At the end, an objective type of self assessment questionnaire is also provided.

 

1. Introduction                                            2. Preliminary Preparations
3. External Examination                           4. Postmortem of Cattle
5. Postmortem of Sheep and Goat        6. Postmortem of Canines

7. Sample Collection and Dispatch       8. Report Writing and Diagnosis
9. Handling of Veterolegal Cases         10. Disposal of Carcass
11. Self Assessment Test

 

Content is enriched with 240 colour photographs of various lesions and organ specific changes in cattle, sheep, goat and dogs.

 

 

Various findings of infectious , non infectious and metabolic diseases are incorporated.

 

 

Around 89 video clips of detail post mortem in large and small animals and canines are also incorporated.

 

 

 

 

 

2. Diagnosis of Parasitic Diseases

 

This course is designed so as to familiarize the learner with various parasitic diseases of domestic animals, their diagnosis and treatment. Various laboratory techniques for processing the Faecal and Blood sample with suitable images are also included.

 

The course content includes 8 chapters on Faecal and Blood sample examination, skin scraping examination symptoms and treatment, examination of parasite during necropsy and collection and dispatch of material for parasitic diagnosis.

 

 

 Good number of colour images of various parasites, their eggs/ ova, lesions in domestic animal are also incorporated for better understanding.

 

 

 

3. Techniques In Small Animal Surgery
 

Veterinary Surgery is both an art and a science and combines the knowledge of Anatomy, Physiology, Anesthesiology and Radiology. Perfect and quick decision is usually required for the reversal or to stop the disease process in order to save the life of patient.

 

 

The purpose of these 2 courses is to provide easy, concise and latest information in the form of audio, video and text to the veterinarians in the form of CD –ROM.

 

 

The course content includes use of anaesthetic drugs in local and general anaesthesia, their dose and contraindications with techniques.

 

The surgical procedures are described with regards to indication of surgery, anaesthesia to be used, preparation of site, surgical anatomy and procedure, post-operative care and complications with treatment.

 

Number of video clips of routine surgical procedures are incorporated so as learner gets acquainted with the particular surgery.

 

 

The Small animal surgery includes surgeries namely,

 

                          1.  Spaying,                                       2.  Pyometra

                          3.  Enterotomy                                 4.  Amputation of penis and scrotum

                          5. Ventral hernia                             6.  Cystotomy

                          7. Tibial plating.

 

 

 

4: Techniques In Large Animal Surgery

 

The Course in Large animal surgery includes nine surgeries namely

 

                          1.  Extirpation of Eyeball                        2.  Caesarian Section

                          3.  Amputation of Horn                           4.  Urethrotomy

                          5.  Rumenotomy                                      6.  Tracheotomy

                          7.  Cystorrhaphy                                      8.  Gelding and

                          9.  Perineal Hernia Repair

 

 

The courses are available to the Vet. Graduates (BVSc./ BVSc & AH, MVSc degree holders) with registrations from State Vet Council.

The application form and prospectus cost Rs.100 /- only. The course fee is Rs. 500=00 per course (Including teaching materials, consultations and face to face sessions).

A certificate for completing each course will be issued by MAFSU. All the payments should be made either by cash or in the form of Demand Draft in the name of Pay and Accounts Officer, MAFSU, payable at Mumbai.

This is an unique opportunity offered for first time in India. All the veterinarians are appealed to take the advantage of this opportunity to enrich their knowledge for the advancement in veterinary profession and ultimately benefiting the livestock owners and their livelihood.

 

 

All the correspondence should be made with…

 

-  Project Coordinator  -
 

Dr. P.S. Lonkar

Director of Extension and Training

(Ex- Professor & University Head, Department of Pathology
Bombay Veterinary College Mumbai)

Phone : 022-24180430
Email : pslonkar@yahoo.co.in  &  mafsudet@yahoo.co.in

  

 

 

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