The South African Veterinary Association (Sava) has raised the alarm, warning that the termination of US Aid’s support threatens to undo decades of progress in disease surveillance, epidemic prevention, and public health safety.
Programmes That Protected Public Health at Risk
According to Mail&Guardian, US Aid’s funding supported a wide range of initiatives designed to catch outbreaks before they spread including zoonotic diseases, which pass from animals to humans.
Sava interim managing director, Paul Van der Merwe warns that the infrastructure is now at risk, with real consequences for South Africans.
One particular concern is avian influenza, a disease closely tracked through the movement of migratory birds from Europe to Africa.
It spills over into poultry and then it might spill over into humans.
Veterinary Shortage
But it’s not just funding that’s drying up.
The country is also facing a chronic shortage of veterinarians a problem that has been building for years and is now worsening as professionals leave the country in search of better pay and working conditions abroad.
Sava estimates that over 100 veterinarians emigrate each year, while only 120 to 140 are trained annually.
Currently, South Africa has about 60 veterinarians per million people, far short of the international norm of 200 to 400 per million.
“If you qualify 120 vets a year and lose 100, you’re standing still or worse, moving backwards,” Van der Merwe said.
“We’ve had negative growth in the profession for two years now. That’s not sustainable.”
The financial pressures on young vets are immense. Veterinary science is one of the most expensive degrees in South Africa, often leaving graduates with R2.5 to R3 million in student debt.
Starting salaries, however, hover around R30 000 per month – far from enough to cover repayments.
Call for Government
Sava warns that unless urgent action is taken to retain veterinary professionals and replace lost funding, South Africa could face serious economic and public health consequences.
“The truth is, we can’t afford to wait for the next outbreak,” Van der Merwe said. “If we don’t invest in prevention now, we’ll end up paying much more when crisis hits.”
With government budgets already stretched thin, the solution won’t be simple. But Van der Merwe believes a reprioritisation is essential.
“Prevention must come first,” he said. “Because once disease strikes, the costs in lives, money, and livelihoods are far greater.”
How do you think the loss of USAid funding will impact South Africa’s ability to control such outbreaks?
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