Malawi's first home trained vets to visit Scotland

12 August 2019

This September, the first Malawian veterinary students to graduate from the new Veterinary School in Malawi are coming to Scotland.

The first ever vets to be trained entirely within Malawi will graduate later this year – and in September, Scotland will host their first study tour and welcome them into the Scottish Parliament!

Despite Malawi's economy being predominantly agrarian, remarkably the country currently has only seven vets. However, later this year 12 newly-trained veterinarians will graduate from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR) and be the first cohort of vets to gain their qualifications entirely in Malawi.

We are delighted that the group’s Head of Department, Professor Tefera Melaku from Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), will speak at the Scottish Parliament's Cross-Party Group on Malawi on Wednesday, September 11, at 1pm with the 12 students participating in a Q&A.

We much appreciate Professor Melaku and the multi-party organisers of the visit making time in their busy schedules and we have changed the previously advertised date and time of the meeting (which is also driven by space within Holyrood) so that the CPG can learn more about this exciting development for animal health in Malawi and of its Scottish links.

Whilst in Scotland, the students, who are due to graduate in Malawi in December, will be based at Inglis Vets in Dunfermline.

During this study visit, the final year students will participate in field trips and a two day workshop at the University of Edinburgh on essential skills for veterinary practice. This will include a visit to the animal hospital at The Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies.

The study visit from Malawi is being made possible by Lilongwe Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (LSPCA), the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA), Inglis Vets, SMP member, Adam Tjolle and is being funded by Lilongwe Society for the Protection and Care of Animals (LSPCA) UK who have been awarded a grant by Independent Vet Care to cover all costs.

The CPG meeting is open to the public, but space is limited so please register using the EventBrite page.

Malawi vets