A mechanism is needed for veterinary collaborators.

Currently, the risk of outbreaks of African swine fever and other diseases in livestock is high. In many localities in Thai Nguyen province, the shortage of local veterinary staff is causing considerable difficulties in disease prevention and control.

Veterinary staff in Phu Binh commune guide livestock farmers in signing commitments to ensure safety and prevent disease outbreaks in their livestock.

Thai Nguyen province currently has over 890,000 pigs, of which a relatively large proportion, with more than 110,000 households, are engaged in small-scale pig farming, posing a high risk of disease outbreaks.

According to the Department of Livestock, Veterinary and Fisheries of Thai Nguyen province, before July 1, 2025, the agricultural sector had 268 veterinary staff, including 165 in the former Thai Nguyen province and 103 in the former Bac Kan province. In addition, the province had 366 grassroots veterinary collaborators who directly advised and assisted in livestock management and disease prevention and control at the commune level, including important tasks requiring expertise in disease prevention and control such as disease surveillance, vaccination, and outbreak management.

To date, with the implementation of the two-tiered local government model, some veterinary staff and the entire force of veterinary collaborators have resigned or retired under government regulations, which has affected the monitoring of disease outbreaks and the support of localities in livestock development.

Mr. Nguyen Van Vi, a veterinary officer in Phu Binh commune, expressed his concern: "After the merger, 4 out of 5 veterinary officers resigned, leaving only me to manage livestock and veterinary work in a large area with over 3,000 farming households. During this time, with the risk of African swine fever outbreaks, I'm working alone, going to the grassroots level to assess the situation and implement disease prevention and control measures. The workload is immense and overwhelming."

Fortunately, I was able to gather the former grassroots veterinary collaborators and encourage them to cooperate in this work. Initially, we're going to livestock farms to implement the signing of commitments. For those with dead pigs, we're guiding them on reporting, disposing of, and disinfecting according to regulations, and complying with disease prevention and control measures. However, there is currently no support mechanism in place, Mr. Nguyen Van Vi stated.

Phu Binh commune is preparing supplies and disinfectants to provide to livestock farms.

Mr. Tran Van Tuan, Vice Chairman of the Phu Binh Commune People's Committee, said: "Previously, there was a team of grassroots veterinary collaborators who regularly monitored the situation and guided people on vaccination and disinfection. Therefore, the shortage at this time is causing the locality many difficulties in implementing disease prevention and control measures."

A similar situation is occurring in Cho Don commune. Ms. Hoang Phuong Dung, Vice Chairman of the People's Committee of Cho Don commune, informed: After the merger, 3 people requested retirement under the state's regulations, so the commune only has 1 veterinary staff member left. Without local veterinary collaborators, and with a large geographical area and scattered small-scale livestock farming households, disease prevention and control among livestock is difficult. The local authorities hope to have additional personnel in this field in the near future.

In reality, many localities are facing difficulties in disease prevention and control due to a lack of local personnel to assess the situation, guide people, and advise on specialized measures. To ensure effective disease prevention and control amidst the complex developments of African swine fever, the Department of Agriculture and Environment has mobilized all its professional staff with expertise in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine, including staff from the Center for Agricultural and Environmental Services, to directly support localities with expertise and disease prevention and control measures.

Mr. Duong Van Hao, Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture and Environment, informed: Currently, small-scale household livestock farming is still relatively common in the province. To ensure disease safety for livestock and poultry, a veterinary force at the grassroots level is necessary. The department hopes the province will continue to maintain policies to preserve the team of veterinary collaborators, as this force is closely involved with the grassroots level and cooperates very well with the semi-professional veterinary staff at the commune level.

Source: https://baothainguyen.vn/thoi-su-thai-nguyen/202507/can-co-che-cho-cong-tac-vien-thu-y-f891688/