latin america

Continuing Education provided for veterinarians in Paraguay

Aug 18

Since 2014 World Vets has supported the skills training and development of veterinary practitioners in Paraguay. We recently sent our lead veterinary instructor from World Vets Latin American Training Center to provide continuing education to our local veterinary partners in Asuncion. It was a full week of high quality instruction in surgical techniques and safe anesthesia! We thank our hosts ADOPTAME con amor y responsabilidad for their dedication to provide quality veterinary care for the animals of Paraguay.

A Facility Serving the Community & Beyond: World Vets Latin America Veterinary Training Center

Mar 24

World Vets has been operating veterinary field service projects in Latin America since 2008. During our time working in this region of the world, we experienced that many local veterinarians and veterinary students with whom we worked had received minimal, if any, surgical instruction and in turn did not perform sterilizations. Meanwhile dog and cat populations ran rampant as the local capacity to de-sex animals, and thus humanely control their reproduction, was limited to non-existent.

To address the gap in veterinary surgical skill, in addition to animal population control efforts, World Vets founded the Latin America Veterinary Training Center (LATC) in 2011. The main objective, and cornerstone of the center, is to provide free surgical instruction and training to Latin American veterinarians and upper level veterinary students. As such, it is our aim to equip trainee participants with the necessary skills and competence they can in turn use to benefit the animals in their own communities. The center also prides itself on teaching as well as practicing high quality veterinary care. Subsequently, the facility is equipped with modern equipment such as central oxygen, pulse oximeters and fluid pumps, as well as an autoclave, ultrasound and microscope.

The LATC is located in Nicaragua and since its inception has established relations with all the veterinary schools in the country. It has even received acknowledgements from such institutions regarding the invaluable skills our training has provided its students. The LATC training program has also developed to the point where weekly sessions are offered year round and we host participants from many Latin American countries such as Mexico, Guatemala and Paraguay. We have also incorporated an ongoing internship program, which allows those selected to obtain greater clinical experience and mentorship.

Furthermore, as a result of the activities at the LATC, World Vets is able to provide thousands of free sterilizations and health treatments every year for local animals in Nicaragua. We operate daily pick ups/drop offs for animals living in outlying rural communities, which make spay/neuter and other needed veterinary services accessible for those who otherwise could not afford it. We even operate outreach clinics in other nearby areas benefiting animals, due to distance, do not have access to the LATC or our pick up/drop off service.

Often times we also encounter unique or emergency cases that require immediate attention. One such animal was Pinta. She had an old wound that had been growing and growing on her left hind leg. Her owners were very concerned but admitted they were not able to afford the transport into the city and the associated veterinary costs. Although challenging to the size of the wound, our LATC team was able to clean the wound of old tissue and close it enough to allow it to heal. After three weeks in our care, Pinta is almost healed and ready to go back to her family! Unfortunately without care, Pinta was unlikely to survive the infection. As Pinta’s case highlights, many local animals benefit greatly from the free services provided at the LATC, not only from spay/neuter but life saving veterinary interventions.

: Pinta recovery

: Pinta after surgery

: Pinta recovery

In short, the LATC greatly benefits its immediate community and beyond through the training and mentorship provided to its trainee participants. What’s more, it also provides essential veterinary services for local animals and rural communities who otherwise may never have access to quality veterinary care. If you support capacity building of future and present veterinary professionals, and if you believe that all animals deserve access to skilled veterinary care, we encourage you to support our Latin America Veterinary Training Center! We also accept corporate sponsorships and welcome other partnership opportunities.

We’d like to thank Fondation Brigitte Bardot for their ongoing support of our Latin America Veterinary Training Center

World Vets Contributes to Civil – Military Humanitarian Aid Missions

Jul 01

One of World Vets ongoing programs is our collaboration with the US Navy in delivering humanitarian aid. This civil – military partnership spans over six years and has World Vets contribute veterinary expertise, skill, and manpower to achieve mission objectives.

World Vets is represented on two US Navy led humanitarian aid missions: Pacific Partnership and Continuing Promise. This summer we have veterinary teams on both missions where they are traveling on board hospital ships, working alongside US Army veterinary personnel and providing services and training onshore in host nations. Read about our vet teams’ experience on the 2015 Pacific Pacific mission here

This partnership has allowed us to expand our reach and help many animals in remote locations. It has also afforded us the opportunity to work with, train, as well as support, veterinary professionals and institutions operating in the countries visited. Watch a video of the work and importance our veterinary teams play here

As part of these annual missions, World Vets veterinary teams benefit countless communities within Latin America and the Caribbean, in addition to the South Pacific, and South East Asia.

See pictures from past missions

Making a Difference: World Vets Latin America Veterinary Training Center

Oct 16

At the end of 2011, World Vets celebrated the grand opening of our Latin America Veterinary Training Center located in Granada, Nicaragua. This center was established to provide free surgical instruction and training to Latin American veterinarians and upper level veterinary students. Outfitted with modern equipment such as gas anesthesia, central oxygen, pulse oximeters, fluid pumps, autoclave, centrifuge and ultrasound, we strive to teach and practice high quality veterinary medicine.

We currently employ three full time Nicaraguan veterinarians who provide weekly training sessions in Spanish as part of this program. Prior to their employment, they had volunteered with World Vets as veterinary students during our Nicaraguan field clinics. They now provide high quality instruction in surgical techniques, safe anesthesia, patient safety and comfort as well as pain management. To date we have had over 100 participants receive training as part this program. Veterinarians and students have come from all over Nicaragua and have even traveled from Mexico, Guatemala and Peru to take part.

World Vets was recently presented with an award from La Universidad Catolica del Tropico Seco de Esteli (UCATSE), in association with their Agricultural Science Department, based in Esteli, Nicaragua. This award was given in recognition of the invaluable support that we have provided to their students in helping to shape their futures as veterinarians.

Even though it is a training facility, our number one priority is always to provide the best patient care possible for each and every animal that comes through the center. These much needed spay/neuter services as well as any additional medical treatments that may be needed for the patient are provided completely free of charge to pet owners and for street animals. As a result of this program, we have provided over 3500 surgical procedures at no cost to local pet owners and street dogs. What’s more, our Nicaraguan veterinarians provide a door to door service for rural animals; picking them up for surgery and returning them home following recovery.

Our training center not only provides instruction and training to animal healthcare professionals. It is also benefitting many communities outlying the city of Granada who do not have access to veterinary services for their animals. To keep up to date with our training center activities, `like` its page on Facebook here

We thank Fondation Briggite Bardot for their support of this program

New Website: World Vets Latin America Surgical Training Center

Sep 27

In December 2011, World Vets held its grand opening of our Latin America Surgical Training Center located in Granada, Nicaragua. This center provides free surgical instruction and training opportunities for Latin American veterinarians and upper level veterinary students. We have since begun offering regular training sessions and have now launched its very own website! See Training Center Website

Throughout the year we also use the training center as a base of operations for our International Veterinary Medicine (IVM) Program. This program is geared towards North American, Australian and European students, though all are welcome, who wish to learn more about practicing veterinary medicine in a foreign country while also giving back to the local animal community.

If you’re on Facebook, “LIKE” our Latin America Training Center page

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