Afghanistan is an agrarian nation, and more than 80 percent of its citizens live in rural areas and depend on livestock (sheep, goats, cattle, horses, donkeys, camels, and chickens) for food and income. Livestock health is essential for the survival of many Afghans but a lack of veterinary care leads to frequent early animal deaths and loss of revenues. To provide affordable, accessible veterinary care, USAID established a network of veterinary field units (VFUs) -- private businesses that provide preventive animal health and treatment services to rural communities. Veterinary Field Units are established as part of USAID's Accelerating Sustainable Agriculture Program (ASAP), in partnership with the Dutch Committee for Afghanistan, Partners in Revitalization and Building, and the Afghanistan Veterinary Association.

The VFUs are staffed by veterinarians, veterinary assistants, and paravets (paravets are the equivalent of community health workers but for animals) who use a community-based approach to provide advice, cure diseases, and administer reliable and quality vaccines and medicines to livestock on a fee-for-service basis. The notion that Afghan farmers can't afford to pay for veterinary services is being replaced by the belief that Afghan farmers can't afford not to pay for veterinary services.

Veterinary Field Unit Script English