Kandahar biosecurity engagement program

1. Kandahar biosecurity engagement program • WHO: Dr. Zahir, Provincial Veterinarian, Kandahar, Afghanistan • WHAT: Biosecurity Engagement Program training at the Provincial Veterinarian Clinic • WHEN: 7-10 July • WHERE: Provincial Vet Clinic, Kandahar City, Kandahar, Afghanistan • OUTCOME: • KADT partnered with the Department of State to provide veterinary training to the veterinarians and para-veterinarians of Kandahar Province. • The training was lead by the Provincial Veterinarian and included ten Kandahar Province Para-veterinarians. • The purpose of the Department of State’s Biosecurity Engagement Program (BEP) is to strengthen disease surveillance by building veterinary capacity to detect, diagnose, and treat infectious disease. • The three-day training was the first of four scheduled modules, and focused on infectious diseases of livestock. This was an independent training led entirely by Afghans, for Afghans. • There is some concerns about the training. On the morning of 10 July, Dr. Zahir was contacted to see if the training had taken place. He said that he that it hadn’t because the para vets would not attend if they were not paid a stipend. He was told by both the KADT Commander and Ag Chief, that this is for the good of Afghanistan, and they should take advantage of the free training. Later that day, he sent KADT an email saying that the training took place from 7-10 July (3 days leading up to the original inquiry). He send pictures and a roster of ten names. He either held the training and was trying to “shake down” ISAF for payment, or he did not hold the training and staged the photos and roster. Photo by UNK Para Veterinarians attend BEP training Photo by UNK Para Veterinarians practice stitching a wounded horse Photo by UNK Para Veterinarians attend BEP training

2. Roster of attendees provided by Dr. Zahir