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AFSCAN announces educational initiative in Africa
"Working together, we will advance the veterinary profession across Africa and, in so doing, improve the lives of millions of animals and humans."
Project aims to advance standards of veterinary care across Africa

The Board of the African Small Companion Animal Network (AFSCAN) has launched a distance learning educational program and has set out plans for the creation of five new veterinary associations in Africa.

AFSCAN, an initiative from the World Small Animal Veterinary Association, aims to advance standards of veterinary care across Africa through facilitating the creation of a sustainable network of companion animal veterinarians, associations and specialist groups in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The project was launched during a meeting of the AFSCAN board which took place during the WSAVA World Congress in Cape Town, South Africa, in September 2014.  

The programme provides access to a range of online learning resources, on computers and internet-connected devices which have been donated by UK veterinary practices.

Veterinary associations have also been set up in Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania and Uganda. It is hoped that the first of them will receive WSAVA membership at the WSAVA World Congress, in May 2015.

Dr Gabriel Varga, Chairman of the AFSCAN Board, said:  "In the six months since AFSCAN was launched, we have built a committed community of  experts and partner organisations who share our goals.  We are very grateful to them all for their support.  

"Working together, we will advance the veterinary profession across Africa and, in so doing, improve the lives of millions of animals and humans.  With the foundations of our work now firmly in place, we are looking forward to working towards our goals in the months ahead."

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Equine Disease Surveillance report released for Q4 2025

News Story 1
 The latest Equine Disease Surveillance report has been released, with details on equine disease from Q4 of 2025.

The report, produced by Equine Infectious Disease Surveillance, includes advice on rule changes for equine influenza vaccination.

Statistics and maps detail recent outbreaks of equine herpes virus, equine influenza, equine strangles and equine grass sickness. A series of laboratory reports provides data on virology, bacteriology, parasitology and toxicosis.

This issue also features a case study of orthoflavivus-associated neurological disease in a horse in the UK. 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
RCVS members invited to question Council candidates

RCVS members have been invited to submit questions to candidates for this year's RCVS Council election.

With 15 candidates standing for three available positions, vets have been invited to submit a question of their choosing before voting starts. These questions will be collated, with each candidate answering one question of their choice.

It is recommended that members read the candidates' biographies and statements before submitting questions. One question per member can be submitted to vetvote26@rcvs.org.uk before Wednesday, 25 February 2026.

The RCVS Council election is due to start in March.

With only two candidates for two positions on the VN Council, there will be no VN Council elections this year. Meghan Conroy RVN and Lauren Hargrave RVN will begin their three year terms at RCVS' AGM in July.