ANNUAL HERD HEALTH FIELD TRAINING AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH , KIBWEZI

Annually, the Department of Clinical Studies (CSD) organizes a herd health field training and community outreach camp within Kibwezi Sub-County, Makueni County. The purpose of the exercise is to provide experiential training and practical skills to BVM students as well as offering free herd health services such as deworming, treatment and consultancy to the local community farmers neighboring the University’s Kibwezi Field Station Farm. The program is a mandatory examinable practical exercise within the curriculum for all BVM Year 5 students. Planning of the annual event is usually jointly done by the Clinical Studies Department, Kibwezi Field Station, and Makueni County’s Veterinary Services Directorate.  

This year’s camp took place between 10th -12th May, 2024, conducted by a team of ninety-three (93) BVM year 5 students, accompanied by three (3) Faculty Staff (Dr. Aboum, Dr. Kimeli, & Dr. Kipyegon). The students’ meals and accommodation services were provided at the Kibwezi Field Station facility. On May 11, 2024, the team split into four groups that were dispatched to four (4) stations within Kikumbulyu North and Kikumbulyu South Wards where they interacted with herds of cattle, sheep, goats, and donkeys brought by the local community. The activities included drenching, treatment of isolated cases of sick animals, taking blood samples for laboratory examinations, and offering livestock and husbandry advice to farmers. The team also attended the University’s livestock at Kibwezi Field Station.