Over the past decade, the Veterinary Council of Nigeria (VCN) has invested significant effort into standardizing training for Community Animal Health Workers (CAHWs). As the lead consultant in this process, Dr. Yakubu Yanet Ago shares his journey and insights into the development and implementation of CAHW training in Nigeria. Dr. Yakubu currently serves as the Assistant Chief Veterinary Officer at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Department of Veterinary and Pest Control Services, Abuja.
Dr. Yakubu, can you tell us about the origins of the CAHW Scheme in Nigeria and how you became involved?
Back to 2010, during my time as Provost of the National Livestock Training Centre in Kachia, I attended a course titled “From Competency Profile to Competence-Based Training Programs” at Aeres University of Applied Sciences in The Netherlands. This experience equipped me with the skills to develop competency-based curricula and assess existing training programs through that lens.
For this reason, in 2016 I was appointed by Palladium International Development Limitedunder thePropcom Mai-karfi programme (funded by UKAID) to lead the development of the Community Animal Health Workers Scheme on behalf of the Veterinary Council of Nigeria
Our mission involved designing four key tools:
1. The CAHW Curriculum – outlining the scope of training for CAHWs;
2. The CAHW Trainer’s Guide – a step-by-step aid for instructors on how to conduct the training;
3. The CAHW Trainee’s Handbook – a resource-rich manual with illustrations to support learning and serve as a reference in the field;
4. The CAHW Trainee Workbook – featuring exercises and review questions to reinforce learning after each topic.
Together with Prof. Paul A. Abdu, who served as policy advisor, we developed these materials through an inclusive process that involved extensive stakeholder engagement.
What did the validation process look like?
Midway through development, the VCN brought together a panel of veterinarians, including the Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) of Nigeria and WOAH Delegate, to review the materials. Based on their recommendations, we revised the content and presented it again for final approval.
The validation culminated in a national stakeholder workshop held at the National Veterinary Research Institute in Vom. This brought together over 70 key stakeholders, including the President and Registrar of the VCN, Representatives of Academia, Representatives of the National Association of Animal Health Technologists and 25 State Directors and their CAHW State Desk Officers.
The whole development process took approximately six months.
When was the first training conducted?
Once the materials validated and approved for use, we rolled out the first Training of Trainers (TOT) in November 2018. I facilitated this initial training for 25 State Directors of Veterinary Services and their designated CAHW Desk Officers. These participants became the focal points for implementing the CAHW Scheme in their respective states. Subsequent TOTs were then conducted at the states level to prepare more trainers who would cascade the training to CAHWs.
How are CAHW trainers selected?
The TOT targets qualified veterinarians who will be trained to cascade the training to the actual CAHWs. For a TOT to happen, the State Director of Veterinary Services submits the list of staff to be trained to the Veterinary Council of Nigeria through the CAHWs Desk Officer.
Candidates must hold a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree; have at least five years of post-graduate experience; possess strong ICT and communication skills; and and have their Annual Practicing License (APL) up to date.
What does the TOT involve?
The TOT lasts 3 days and focuses on how to conduct the training applying key principles of adult learning methodologies, facilitation techniques, and communication strategies, recognizing that most CAHW trainees have a secondary school education or less.
The training covers the entire curriculum and Trainer’s Guide. At the end, each participant makes a short presentation to the group who play the role of CAHW trainees. Successful participants receive a Certificate of Participation and a copy of the Trainer’s Guide, qualifying them to conduct CAHW training in their State.
While TOTs usually target State veterinary officers, in 2020, with support from FAO, we conducted a virtual TOT for 54 academic staff (including Professors, Readers, Senior Lecturers, etc.) from the University of Maiduguri, in Borno State. Borno State is known for its large livestock population (cattle and small ruminants). With the insurgency, there were many internally displaced persons (IDPs), livestock were not tethered or cared for, food security was threatened and many young people were unemployed. Since this TOT was recognised by the VCN, these academics are now part of the pool of CAHW trainers.
Facilitating CAHWS TOT for 10 selected Veterinary Officers of Jigawa State Ministry of Agriculture, Nigeria (May, 2024)
How is the need for CAHWs training identified?
The CAHW Scheme follows a bottom-up approach. When a community identifies the need for animal health services, they submit a request to the State Director of Veterinary Services. The State CAHW Desk Officer compiles a list of potential candidates and forwards it to the VCN, which coordinates logistics, identifies appropriate training facilities (model livestock farm, abattoir or veterinary clinic, etc.), and ensures the presence of certified trainers.
To be eligible, CAHW candidates must be adults who can take decisions by themselves; be able to read and communicate in English and/or local language; be trustworthy, committed, responsible and loyal. They must be residents of the nominating community and recommended by the local community. Finally, they must have a genuine interest in animals and animal welfare.
What does the CAHW training entail?
The CAHW training spans 14 days and is conducted close to the community for accessibility. Under the supervision of the Veterinary Statutory Body (VSB)and a decentralized office of theCVO of Nigeria, CAHWs receive training in all topics in the curriculum and are given short test questions from the Workbook and exams after each topic. They are also exposed to practical exercises such as animal handling and restraint, clinical animal examination, identification of animal body parts, wound management, etc.
Upon successful completion, each CAHW is assigned to a Supervisory Veterinarian for ongoing mentorship.
How widespread is the CAHW Scheme in Nigeria today?
To date, I’ve conducted TOTs in nine states, namely Jigawa, Plateau, Bauchi, Kano, Yobe, Gombe, Borno, Adamawa, and Niger, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. These TOT were implemented on behalf of the VCN, with support from organizations such asUKAID (Propcom Mai-karfi/Propcom+), EU/LIDISKI/Ikore project, Mercy Corps Nigeria, and FAO Nigeria.
I often say the veterinarians I’ve trained are my “CAHW children”, and the CAHWs they trained are my “CAHW grandchildren.” By that count, I have over 120 children and more than 1,100 grandchildren actively contributing to animal health in Nigeria.
As we conclude, what key messages would you like to leave us with?
The CAHW Scheme provides a source of livelihood for the youth and women engaged in it. The Scheme is currently reducing unemployment and curbing youth restiveness in Nigeria, while also addressing several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. It has also increased access to animal health care service delivery at the last mile and improved food security.
However, I want to emphasize the need for periodic curriculum reviews. Topics such as food safety, antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and ethno-veterinary practices that I initially included in the curriculum, were not deemed appropriate for CAHWs and were excluded during the 2017 curriculum validation phase. Today, these issues are more relevant than ever—especially in the context of One Health and the global AMR threat.
In my view, the curriculum should be reviewed every five years to keep pace with emerging challenges and opportunities in veterinary public health.
Interview realised by Alexia Rondeau, CAHW Project Manager, VSF International