WERKSOMSTANDIGHEDE VAN VEAARTSE ONDER DIE SOEKLIG
Die Minister van Landbou, mnr John Steenhuisen, het homself daartoe verbind om te verseker dat die werksomstandighede van dieregesondheidspraktisyns in Suid-Afrika verbeter.
Dit is in die lig van die feit dat die land met ‘n kritieke tekort aan professionele persone in hierdie noodsaaklike veld worstel, wat verreikende implikasies vir dieregesondheid, biosekuriteit en voedselsekerheid inhou. Die uitdagings wat veeartse in die gesig staar, sluit in onvoldoende hulpbronne en medisyne, onvoldoende vergoeding en toenemende kommer oor geestesgesondheid.
Minister Steenhuisen het die erns van hierdie kwessies in ‘n persverklaring beklemtoon en erkenning gegee aan die onontbeerlike rol wat veeartse speel om die land se landbousektor te beskerm.
“Veeartse is ‘n hoeksteen van Suid-Afrika se landbousukses en indien die sistemiese kwessies wat hulle in die gesig staar nie aangespreek word nie, loop ons die risiko om nie net hul welstand in gevaar te stel nie, maar ook die nasie se voedselsekerheid.”
Hy het gesê Suid-Afrika moet ‘n plek word waar dieregesondheidspraktisyns kan floreer en gewaardeer kan voel. Suid-Afrika het tans 4 000 geregistreerde veeartse, ver onder die internasionale maatstaf, wat tussen 200 en 400 veeartse per miljoen mense is. Minstens honderd veeartse emigreer jaarliks op soek na beter geleenthede in die buiteland.
In sy pogings om omvattende insette van alle relevante partye te verseker, sal minister Steenhuisen met die nege provinsiale landbou-LUR’e, senior amptenare van die departement, die Suid-Afrikaanse Veeartsenykundige Vereniging en sleutel-bedryskundiges vergader om hierdie bekommernisse aan te spreek en ‘n potensiële krisis in die beroep en die landbousektor af te weer.
VET WORKING CONDITIONS UNDER THE SPOTLIGHT
The Minister of Agriculture, Mr John Steenhuisen, has made a firm commitment to ensuring that the working conditions of animal health practitioners are improved in South Africa.
This comes as the country grapples with a critical shortage of professionals in this essential field, which has far-reaching implications for animal health, biosecurity and food security. The challenges veterinarians face includes insufficient resources and medicines, inadequate remuneration, and mounting mental health concerns.
Minister Steenhuisen emphasised the gravity of these issues in a press release, acknowledging the indispensable role veterinarians play in safeguarding the country’s agricultural sector.
“Veterinarians are a cornerstone of South Africa’s agricultural success, and without addressing the systemic issues they face, we risk jeopardising not only their well-being but the nation’s food security”.
He said South Africa must become a place where animal health practitioners can thrive and feel valued. South Africa currently has 4 000 registered veterinarians, far below the international benchmark which is between 200 and 400 veterinarians per million people. At least a hundred veterinarians emigrate annually in search of better opportunities abroad.
In his efforts to ensure comprehensive input from all relevant parties, Minister Steenhuisen will meet with the nine provincial agriculture MECs, senior officials from the department, the South African Veterinary Association, and key industry experts to address these concerns and avert a potential crisis in the profession and the agricultural sector.