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