PNG UNRE to offer a Para Veterinary course
PNG UNRE will soon offer a Certificate in the Fundamentals of Para Veterinary Technology as a strategic response to the recent global and national outbreak of animal and zoonotic diseases. 
Mr. Sinafa Robby drawing blood from the jugular vein of a goat.
The course will be delivered during the University’s Centre for Self Education (CFSE) Taubar Session.
UNRE Vice-Chancellor Professor Aisak Pue said the program will be delivered over 12 weeks using a modular block approach during the 2020/21 Taubar Session at the University beginning November 23rd 2020.
He explained that given the dire need for specialist training in addressing these biosecurity threats to the nation, this program is the University’s contribution to training appropriately skilled and competent animal health specialists in this high-risk sector.
He said the initial needs assessment for the development of this program is directly from the PNG National Food Security Policy 2018 -2027. The first two Priority Strategic Action Areas of this policy are;
• Productivity and farm output growth of the main food staples, horticulture, small livestock and fish farming and increasing efficiencies along the entire food value chain.
• Building stability and resilience into food production and supply systems.
Prof Pue said the Certificate in Para Veterinary Technology Program is part of PNG UNRE’s contribution to the nation’s pursuit to “Growing agriculture for food security, good nutrition and health.”
“Livestock production is an integral part of an agricultural system. Livestock provides inputs for agriculture in the form of draft, manure and food security for the farmer. Animals must be in good health in order for the livestock enterprise to be optimally productive. The shortage of qualified veterinarians in the country demands for competent training in Para veterinary technology to allow skilled officers to make initial animal disease inspections, identification and reporting to relevant authorities,” the Vice-Chancellor said.
The program is designed by Animal Science Lecturer Sinafa Robby, who is a current member and PNG representative to the Wildlife Disease Association – Australasian Section.
Mr. Robby has extensive field and laboratory-based experience in animal and wildlife disease research.
The program was designed upon extensive consultation with external industry partners in the animal health and disease arena. Mr Robby will be coordinating its delivery.
Prof. Pue explained that the program aims to provide students with the skills and knowledge they will need to competently understand the interaction of the environment, pathogens and the host in the development of animal diseases and how these diseases can be recognized and treated based on clinical and necropsy findings.
Students attending this program can expect to learn;
• Animal Anatomy and Physiology
• Veterinary Epidemiology and Ecology
• Clinical Examination of Animals
• Necropsy Techniques for Disease Investigation
• Diseases of Ruminants
• Diseases of Poultry
• Endemic and Exotic Diseases of Swine
• Veterinary Drugs and Laboratory Disease Testing Techniques
The Taubar Session is an off-season intensive learning programme that is designed to externalize mainstream undergraduate programs.
“It is aimed at providing a learning opportunity for potential students who are unable to take up full-time studies at the University. CFSE will facilitate the Taubar Session as part of the Community Outreach and Extension Program. PNG UNRE in its introductory delivery of the Taubar Session will be offering four (4) learning programs inclusive of matriculation,” said Prof. Pue.
Other programs to be delivered during the Taubar Session include:
1. Bridging to Bachelor Degree (For Diploma graduates from the Agriculture and Fisheries Program)
2. Certificate in the Fundamentals of Statistics for Research / Experimentation.
The Para Veterinary Sciences strand of courses will also be available to former Diploma in Tropical agriculture graduates opting upgrade to Bachelor Degree in Sustainable Tropical Agriculture.
For further information on the Taubar session, email Ms Tringin at: stringin@unre.ac.pg. For information on the Para Vet program email Mr Robby: srobby@unre.ac.pg.
