A vet treats a horse in Ethiopia: Credit Bill Bradshaw
World Vet Day: Milestone Year For Innovative Vet Training Approach
12 months ago 
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This World Vet Day (29 April), international animal welfare charity Brooke is celebrating 10 years of its innovative Animal Health Mentoring Framework, responsible for the training of over 4000 vets and animal health practitioners (AHPs) around the world.
The Animal Health Mentoring Framework is a list of essential skills and capabilities developed by Brooke to help animal health workers provide compassionate and competent care to animals. It was first developed by a group of Brooke vets 10 years ago, before being tested in Ethiopia, Kenya, Jordan and Pakistan. Today, it is used by vets across Brooke’s countries of operation, as well as universities and governments.
TV vet Scott Miller, who visited Pakistan with Brooke in 2005, said: “When I think back to the start of my career, I remember the importance of having mentors around me who supported my development and pushed me to become the vet I am today. One of the many reasons I’m proud to support Brooke is because of the way in which the organisation empowers animal health workers in hard-to-reach areas so that animals can access the compassionate and high quality treatment they so deserve.”
Vets and AHPs play a vital role in supporting animals, owners and communities around the world. Unfortunately, many of them receive varying levels of training, which can lead to poor handling, incorrect diagnosis and spread of disease.
Unique to Brooke, this student-led technique has enabled the organisation to improve animal health and welfare in communities far beyond its own reach by strengthening existing systems and equipping workers with the skills they need.
Laura Skippen, Senior Manager, Global Animal Health at Brooke, said: “10 years ago, I was part of a group of vets from all over the world who took part in a workshop to start developing what was to become the Animal Health Mentoring Framework. Today, I am proud to see the incredible impact it has had on animal health systems in Brooke’s countries of operation, supporting animal health practitioners to become capable and compassionate advocates for the welfare of working equids. All animals deserve high-quality healthcare wherever they are - the Framework takes us one step closer to making that a reality.”
The Animal Health Mentoring Framework is one of several ways in which Brooke is working to strengthen animal health systems around the world, ensuring lasting change for animals and for the people who rely on them.
Find out more about the Framework - www.thebrooke.org/our-work/brookes-animal-health-mentoring-framework
About Brooke
Brooke is an international charity that protects and improves the lives of the working horses, donkeys and mules that give people in the developing world the opportunity to work their way out of poverty. Over 100 million of these animals are currently working worldwide, earning an income that around 600 million people rely on to put food on their tables, send their children to school and build better futures for themselves and their families. Sadly, many working horses, donkeys and mules are suffering, so Brooke works in more than 11 developing countries, with owners, communities, service providers, governments and international organisations to make long lasting improvements to the lives of animals and their owners.
Website: www.thebrooke.org
Facebook: thebrookecharity
Twitter: @thebrooke
Instagram @thebrookecharity
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