Eight veterinary doctors have graduated from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology to augment the small fraction of veterinary doctors in the country.

The figure brings to eighteen the number of veterinary doctors trained locally by the KNUST School of Veterinary Medicine, since its establishment in 2009.

This development has been considered by the Veterinary Council of Ghana to be a major breakthrough in a country facing an acute shortage of veterinary doctors.

Records from the Veterinary Services Directorates indicate that, majority of the less than 50 veterinary doctors who are in active service in the country were trained abroad.

The Dean of the KNUST School of Veterinary Medicine, Professor Raphael Dela Folitse, at the second Oath Swearing and Induction Ceremony of eight veterinary doctors comprising of two females and six males called for investment in the training or more veterinary doctors in the doctors.

“The upsurge in animal-related diseases and meat consumption makes it critical to produce the needed expertise to advance cutting-edge veterinary research to improve human health”, he indicated.

He added said Ghana must take veterinary education serious because “about 70 per cent of infectious diseases such as avian influenza, ebola, and anthrax, amongst others emanate from animals, thus, the need to proffer comprehensive measures to improve research on the prevention, control, diagnosis and treatment of these diseases to engender public health through food safety”.

The Pro Vice Chancellor of KNUST, Professor Samuel Nii Odai reiterated the institution’s commitment to stay focused on its mandate of producing the critical human resource base required for the health sector.

He advised the newly inducted veterinary doctors to exhibit professionalism when discharging their duty. Dr Larry Kwame Tay swoop 19 out of the 20 awards presented to the graduating class of 2016. A White Coat ceremony was also held to usher in the Class of 2019 to their second phase of their programme, which is clinical.