A Facility Serving the Community & Beyond: World Vets Latin America Veterinary Training Center
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.
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- Pinta recovery
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- Pinta after surgery
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- 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
As part of our International Veterinary Medicine (IVM) Program based in Nicaragua, we have a unique opportunity for veterinarians. The IVM Program provides veterinary skills training as well as practice to veterinary, pre veterinary as well as veterinary technology students.The goal of this program is to teach students skills that are clinically relevant and to allow them to perform as many hands-on tasks as possible without compromising patient comfort or care.
g on this program provide the instruction and are encouraged to teach students their technique. This way vets are not only confident in what they are teaching but it also allows for students to be exposed to several different approaches. Volunteer instructor positions are also open to licensed veterinary technicians. If you enjoy teaching and/or mentoring others, this is an ideal volunteer opportunity for you!
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 
alian 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.