Animal Health Training and Consultancy Service (AHTCS) is service-oriented, non-profit making non-governmental organization for improving the living standard of marginalized communities. AHTCS has already developed course curriculum of different training packages like Village Animal Health Worker (VAHW) level-I which is recognized by Department of Livestock Service/ Directorate of Training and Ext
ension, VAHW refresher training, Pig Health and Management, Rabbit Keeping, Goat Raising, Community Animal Husbandry Worker (CAHW), Commercial Milk Production and Processing, Avian Health training and course contents of many other trainings related to animal health, husbandry and public health. There may be some modification on course contents of the particular training after reviewing community needs and suggestion from partners. The training methods and course content have continued to evolve over the years in response to trainees' request, and by experience. A course textbook and medicine book for Village Animal Health Worker have been developed over the years which have many illustrations and limited text, which makes it user-friendly to those with little education. The emphasis of the trainings is hands-on and practical. Because of such practical experience during training, VAHWs who have been trained for 35 days are able to effectively treat about 60 percent of the animal health cases in their villages. After reviewing of training's content as per the need of the community and proper selection of trainees, training is conducted in the field with homely environment where sufficient animals are available for trainees to practice. The training is conducted in participatory method based on participant centered adult learning principle, with emphasis on practical work rather than theoretical. The participants are motivated through application of practical skill in the real situation, group discussion, role-play, case studies, brainstorming and games etc
Follow up is an integral part of training. Six months to one year after their training, AHTCS encourage to organize follow up program for the duration of 2-5 days depending upon the nature of program. AHTCS and/or partner organization is involved in follow up of the trainees. Individual performance is assessed comparing with respective set goals during the training period. The follow up and monitoring/ evaluation part of trainee is delegated to the respective partner organization. The partner organization may set goals/ action plans to make easy for evaluation. The partner organization is requested to send evaluation report to AHTCS. Community Service
The community service has been guided by ROAD principle in implementation of its activities. The Realization-Option-Action-Decision and Reassessment are basic component of the principle that guides in each activities and process. In each block of component as mention below is showing different sub-components for guiding the community work at village level. The community service encourages and supports the implementation of livestock related activities at village level. Each service goes through different steps. In the pre visit, a small team from project and link providers becomes familiar with the village background, informs the villagers about the planned participatory needs assessment, explain about objectives and scope of it, establishes contact with village leaders and cross-checks whether the selection of the village corresponds with target of the organization. Participatory needs assessment (PNA) is an intensive planning exercise. Staff from the project discusses current problems and the means to overcome them with village communities and target groups. Villagers analyze their strength, weakness, opportunities and threats. They rank the project ideas, discuss first steps of cooperation and establish the foundation for future support. The community action plan is the crucial part of the option. In this stage technical detail, roles and responsibilities and people contributions are clarified with the group executive committee. The implementation phase (Action) demands particular attention and care from the community mobilisers. They encourage and assist the groups and beneficiaries to manage the implementation phase, they provide advice, training and direct support where necessary. At the same time they have to make sure that groups deliver their inputs in time and according to adequate standards. Evaluation is for joint learning: what can we do better next time, where are our strengths and weakness as a local organization or as a community? After that organization can think about possible next steps to deepen and widen the impact of a project or to start on a new one.
