Vets Asked To Bring Redundant IT Equipment To London Vet Show For Repurposing For African Vets
9 years ago 
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Vetstream, one of the companies behind an initiative to give vets in Africa online access to the latest CPD and point of care information, has called on the veterinary profession to bring redundant IT equipment to the London Vet Show so that it can repurposed for African vets as part of the African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN) project. CloserStill Media, organiser of the London Vet Show, has donated a free stand to the UK-based charity Computers 4 Africa, which prepares the equipment for its new role and ships it out to Africa.
Vetstream, a leading provider of digital clinical resources to the veterinary profession, has already donated more than 40 items of IT equipment, including desktop PCs, laptops and monitors to Computers 4 Africa. Through the AFSCAN project, it is working with the charity to bring more than 150 African veterinary practices online in five sub-Saharan countries (Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda) by the end of 2015. Called 'Distance Learning for Colleagues in Africa', the project is also sponsored by global veterinary supplier KRUUSE. Their efforts form part of the AFSCAN project which is being led by the World Small Animal Veterinary Association's (WSAVA's) charitable Foundation, to advance standards of veterinary care across the continent.
Dr G Mark Johnston, Managing Director of Vetstream, explained: "These days we replace IT equipment so often that it is amazing how quickly a large pile of redundant equipment can build up. Rather than letting it clutter up your office or throwing it away, this equipment can now be repurposed for vets in Africa who really need it. The team at Computers 4 Africa data-wipe it and refurbish it before installing software and browser solutions and shipping it to Africa for use by veterinarians in the AFSCAN-participating countries."
Sharon Roberts from Computers 4 Africa, added: "The veterinary profession is really behind this initiative and we're grateful for the equipment we have already received. It's so kind of the organisers of the London Vet Show to give us this opportunity to highlight the real difference vets here can make to their colleagues in Africa, simply by donating equipment such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, leads, chargers and mice that they no longer need. This is a real win-win across two continents."
Rob Chapman, Director of the London Vet Show, said: "We're delighted to support this initiative which seems to provide benefits for everyone. UK businesses get to reduce recycling costs while putting their redundant hardware to good use in supporting developing nations."
Vetstream is also providing its Canis and Felis peer-reviewed multimedia point-of-care encyclopaedias to veterinarians in the participating AFSCAN countries. Vetstream Canis and Felis feature content from more than 900 leading veterinary clinicians from around the world, are updated weekly and are accessible via any internet-enabled device. Mark Johnston continued: "Education is a key part of helping our colleagues deliver the best level of clinical care that they can in Africa and we are delighted to be part of the team delivering this transformation."
Any companies or practices wishing to help are asked to bring equipment to Computers 4 Africa's stand at the London Vet Show. Alternatively, they can:
deliver it to Vetstream's offices near Cambridge
contact Computers 4 Africa which will arrange to collect the equipment free of charge for a minimum of ten computers plus other items
take it to one of the charity's donation centres around the UK - www.computers4africa.org.uk/appeals/index.php
Notes to editors:
About AFSCAN
The AFSCAN project, the first phase of which runs from April 2014 until April 2016, has been developed by the WSAVA Foundation with the backing of the global animal health company Zoetis and a Consortium of other supporters. Its Project Board is chaired by Dr Gabriel Varga, President of the WSAVA Foundation and Director at Zoetis.
Other supporters and sponsors of AFSCAN include the OIE, the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) and veterinary digital content provider Vetstream; veterinary charity Worldwide Veterinary Services and its Mission Rabies Project; global veterinary equipment supplier KRUUSE; the healthcare advertising agency Circa Health; the University of Veterinary Medicine in Košice and the BSAVA and WSAVA.
About Vetstream
Vetstream offers a range of online clinical resources for the veterinary profession including its point of care reference resources Canis (dogs); Felis (cats) Equis (horses) and Lapis (rabbits). Its Vetacademy e-learning service offers e-learning modules and online videos from some of the world’s leading veterinary CE providers, including The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Medicine, Elsevier and Improve International.
About Computers 4 Africa
Computers 4 Africa transforms communities across Africa, by accepting working redundant PC’s and IT equipment from individuals, corporates and organisations in the UK. Once securely data wiped, the computers are shipped out to schools, colleges, libraries, clinics and specific projects in Africa.
14 October 2015
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