Prevention Is Better Than Cure!

1.2 PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE!

Why?

A sick animal is unable to produce as much meat, milk, manure, or draft power. The lost production plus the expense of treatment cost much more than preventing the disease.

Diseases often slow growth and reduce milk production even after the animal is cured.

Diseases may leave permanent damage.

Diseases may kill the animal and cause a total loss.

Some animal diseases may spread to humans.

Nevertheless, even with the best disease prevention program, there will always be some sick animals. Because of this, it is important to also be able to both treat and prevent the most common diseases.

Start with treatment: When starting animal health programs, communities are usually interested more in treatment than prevention. If an AHA can properly treat sick animals, he establishes credibility and the community becomes more receptive to issues of disease prevention! This process takes time. As the community gradually learns more about livestock health, they come to realize that prevention is most important.

Take opportunities to promote prevention: A good animal health agent knows when to quietly treat a sick animal and when to take opportunities to discuss prevention. For instance, while treating a buffalo calf with worms, it is good to discuss parasite control in the farmer's other animals. When treating tetanus in a horse, a good AHA can mention that other horses should be vaccinated against tetanus. A good AHA can even explain to a farmer that children should also receive worm medicine and vaccines, and send the farmer with his children to the nearest human health worker.