An MOU that was signed on 2 November between the Faculty of Veterinary Science and Wildlife Ranching South Africa (WRSA) will make a significant contribution to an extended capacity to service the wildlife industry in South Africa with specific emphasis on diagnostic pathology of wildlife.

The Memorandum of Understanding entails the full funding by the WRSA of a clinical assistant position in the Section of Pathology, Department of Paraclinical Sciences to enrol a full-time student for the duration of the 3 to 4 year study period. The department in turn will appoint a student as clinical assistant and the incumbent is expected to register for and complete an M Med Vet (Path) degree as offered by the department. Under supervision of relevant members of the department within the Pathology section, the student will during the course of the training also render a diagnostic service to the wildlife industry and in particular, members of the WRSA.

The agreement, signed by the Dean of the Faculty, Prof Darrell Abernethy and the President of the WRSA, Dr Peter Oberem will commence on 1 January next year for a period of three years, subject to extension on the recommendation of the Head of Department of Paraclinical Sciences for an extra year.

The signing ceremony was followed by Dr Oberem’s introduction to Afrivet (of which he is also Managing Director) and the organisation’s dedication to the transfer of knowledge. Already sponsoring the Chair in Primary Animal Healthcare in the Faculty, Afrivet’s strategy is to try and fill the gap where information is not always available and ensuring that if information does exist, it is made available. In this regard they have sold more than 9000 books worth R4,5 million covering various interesting topics ranging from game and cattle to donkeys. One of their latest books, Veterinary Helminthology for South Africa, to which some of the faculty’s members and retired staff have contributed, was then introduced. Leather bounded copies were presented to Prof Nick Kriek (in his absence), Prof Joop Boomker (retired) and Dr Volker Schwan. A copy was also presented to the Dean, Prof Darrell Abernethy.