Fulbright Specialist Program – Pakistan

Mushtaq Memon, Fulbright Specialist Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences

College of Veterinary Medicine

March 1-26, 2015

Objectives – Fulbright Specialist to Pakistan

A. To assist Veterinary Faculty at University of Agriculture, Faisalabad in following new initiatives • Veterinary Business Management Association

certificate program • Pakistan Animal Hospital Association • Initiate preparation for Veterinary Faculty to be

accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association

B. To give presentations, demonstrations, and participate in veterinary clinical case management

Veterinary Business Management

Association (VBMA) certificate program • Washington Sate University (WSU) veterinary

students discussed VBMA program with U of Ag, Faisalabad (UAF) students via web conference

VBMA web conference

• UAF students asked many questions related to starting VBMA Chapter at UAF Vet Faculty

UAF Veterinary Students participated in the VBMA Web conference

UAF veterinary students interested in VBMA with their faculty advisor Dr. Zafar Iqbal Randhawa, Dean Veterinary Faculty and Dr. Mushtaq Memon, Fulbright Specialist from Washington State University

VBMA certificate program will provide veterinary business education and encourage students to engage in private vet

practice and other vet businesses after graduation

Pakistan Animal Hospital Association- PAHA

Background and Justification: PAHA is suggested to develop private veterinary practice model to be utilized to support animal owners, safe-guard public health, and assist in food security of Pakistan. Livestock as a backbone of the rural economy of Pakistan is going through tremendous stress resulting in under-performance of animal production. Many contributing factors in decline of animal productivity are mentioned by international and Pakistani government agencies. Animal disease diagnosis/treatment and prevention of diseases (veterinary services) are at the center of poor animal production. Public health is also at risk due to potential communicable diseases (zoonosis) from animals to human. Globally, about 70% of the human infectious diseases have animal host or reservoir, including rabies, and food poisoning caused by Salmonella and E. coli bacteria.

Continued

PAHA – Background/Justification

Historically, the veterinary services in Pakistan were provided by Government Veterinary Hospitals, which were built during British rule of un-divided India. The government hospitals were built to support rural farmers, owners of various livestock (cattle, sheep, goats, camel, donkeys) and poultry. Due to economic hardships and other factors, veterinary services offered by the government hospitals have declined, and in some rural communities, services have stopped. Moreover, in many communities, government-employed veterinarians run private veterinary practices during their off-time from work at the government hospitals. For all practical purposes, the original concept of providing ‘free’ veterinary service is almost non-existing in Pakistan.

Some farmers and animal owners are seeking private veterinary practitioners to fulfill health needs of their animals. However, the private services are few and not organized or supported as in developed countries.

Veterinary Practitioners discussed the issues and the need to start PAHA

PAHA shall be a non-political, non-religious and non-profit organization, self-governed and led primarily by private veterinary practitioners in Pakistan. Dr. Laeeq Lodhi was elected to coordinate PAHA

PAHA – Participants (picture incomplete)

PAHA wishes to collaborate with international organizations, including American Animal Hospital Association, veterinary specialty groups and veterinary organizations in the United States, Europe and Asia

UAF Veterinary Faculty Accreditation

• Dr. Iqrar Khan, Vice Chancellor (VC), UAF discussed with Dr. Memon the possibilities of the UAF vet faculty to be accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Education (AVMA-COE)

• AVMA-COE accreditation will be discussed by the VC with the UAF and Veterinary Faculty leaders to initiate plans for the accreditation

Dr. Iqrar Khan, Vice Chancellor, University of agriculture, Faisalabad and Dr. Mushtaq Memon, Fulbright Specialist

Presentation and Demonstrations at UAF by Dr. Mushtaq Memon, Fulbright Specialist

Presentations • Fulbright-funded opportunities for students, post-docs and faculty • Global/International Veterinary Medicine • Use of animal reproduction technologies and human development for

increasing global food production • Integrative veterinary medicine • Canine and feline reproduction • Basic concepts of equine reproduction

Demonstrations • Canine pregnancy diagnosis by ultrasonography • Equine ultrasonography • Canine clinical case management

Fulbright-funded opportunities for students, post-docs and faculty

At the request of Dr. Iqrar Khan, UAF Vice Chancellor, Dr. Mushtaq Memon, Fulbright Specialist delivered the presentation in the UAF main auditorium. It was attended by students and faculty

Dr. Zafar Iqbal, Dean UAF Veterinary Faculty introduced the speaker

Global/International Veterinary Medicine

The presentation was focused on the understanding of international issues which impact veterinary medicine, including cultures, and socioeconomic systems

Use of animal reproduction technologies and human development for increasing global food production

The speaker shared the information and his experiences on how animal reproductive technologies, including artificial insemination and embryo transfer have increased milk production in cows and in other animals

Integration of Western and traditional therapies for diagnosis and treatment of veterinary disorders

The attendees had many questions and there was a great discussion on use of acupuncture, herbal therapies, etc. in animals. Use of local herbs and traditional medicines in rural areas of Pakistan was also discussed

Some of the other veterinary faculties in Pakistan joined the presentation and discussion by web conferencing. Shown on the screen are veterinary faculty members from Lasbela University of Agriculture, Water and Marine Sciences.

Dr. Pershotam Khatri (Center front row) from Veterinary Faculty, Sind Agriculture University, Tandojam participated in the discussion.

Canine and Equine Reproduction

Food producing animals (livestock) is emphasized in veterinary curricula in Pakistan. Limited information is given on canine and equine reproduction; therefore, the students took great interest learning about these species

Clinical case diagnoses in UAF veterinary teaching hospital

Asking appropriate questions (case history) to the animal owner is the 1st step important step towards diseases diagnosis. Dr. Memon is taking the history from Dr. Lodhi’s client, owner of the German shepherd dogs with infertility, as veterinary students watched and listened to the history taking.

Case Discussion

The next step in disease diagnosis is to discuss the ‘differential diagnosis’, to rule-out and rule-in possible diseases based upon the history and the physical examination of an animal

Physical Examination and Case Discussion

Drs. Saqib and Memon discussed physical examination of the dog

Understanding of the basic canine reproductive physiology for diagnosing infertility was emphasized

Ultrasonography

Trans-abdominal ultrasonography, a commonly used diagnostic tool in developed countries is being introduced in Pakistan to diagnose diseases in pet animals

Equine Reproduction

Due to limited horse handing facilities, it becomes challenging to utilize cattle chute (shown above) for horse restraint. In addition to potential injury to the horse, it is also risky for people around the horse being examined in a cattle chute

Equine Ultrasonography

Trans-rectal equine ultrasonography (US) is one of the most commonly utilized techniques used in developed countries to diagnose mare infertility. Appropriate horse restraint facilities and ultrasound-trained clinicians are needed for education of the veterinary students and providing service to horse owners

Drs. Lodhi and Memon demonstrated the basic concepts of transrectal ultrasonography. It was admirable to observe the ‘thirst-for-knowledge’ by UAF veterinary students!

Additional Fulbright Specialist Activities Dr Khalid Shouq organized a visit to Qadir Bakhsh Farms http://atdcpakistan.com/index.html The facility is also known as the Agri-Tourism Development Corporation of Pakistan with a motto – ‘Connecting People through Food, Farms & Education’

The farm has unique collection of cactus, and grows numerous varieties of mushrooms, exotic trees and flowers/shrubs for home landscaping. It promotes organic farming through education and sale of the organic herbs and vegetables

The United States Educational Foundation

in Pakistan (USEFP)

Dr. Mujeebuddin Sahrai, Vice Chancellor (VC), Sind Agriculture University (SAU), Tandojam visited USEF office in Islamabad and discussed Fulbright opportunities for SAU faculty and students. Picture (L-R): Saleem Razaque, Program Manager, USEFP; VC Sahrai; Rita Akhtar, Executive Director, USEFP; Mushtaq Memon, Fulbright Specialist and Mazhar Awan, Director, Alumni Affairs, USEFP

Fulbright Alumni Presentation

Mushtaq Memon, Fulbright Specialist delivered a presentation entitled ‘Animal Reproduction technologies and Human Resource Development’ during Fulbright Alumni Forum at USEFP office, organized by Merium Kazmi, Alumni Program Officer

Pet Care Center Visit

A Veterinary couple - Drs. Akmal and Gulnaz Rana provide veterinary services for pets in Islamabad. Dr. Akmal Rana also serves on a committee of the newly formed Pakistan Animal Hospital Association. Mushtaq Memon, Fulbright Specialist visited the Pet Care Center and was impressed with the facilities and the high volume of pets coming to the Center

Fulbright Specialist Follow-up Plans

• Follow-up on initiatives taken at Veterinary Faculty, University of Agriculture, Faisalabad

• Camel Symposium: Resource person for ‘International Symposium on Camel Reproduction and Management’ to be offered at Veterinary Faculty, Sind Agriculture University, Tandojam

• Suggested visit times to accomplish the above mentioned assignments: Nov 16-Dec 31, 2015