VN June 2020

Vetnews | June 2020 3 Van die President Beste Kollegas Ons staan aan die begin van die derdemaand van die Covid-19 pandemie se inkerkering enmoet nie nounet besin oor wat gebeur enhoe ons hierdie ongekende krisis nou hanteer nie; ons moet ook vorentoe kyk en dink oor hoe ons ŉ onbekende toekoms binnegaan. Terwyl jul hierdie lees is die inkerkeringhopelik afgeskaal na vlak 3 inmeeste provinsies endistrikte. Baie van ons begin nou sommige van die COGTA inkerkeringsregulasies bevraagteken, omdat dit lyk asof dit nie soseer gaan oor die beheer van hierdie Coronavirus nie, maarmeer oor die beheer oormense! Die regering het uitstekend weggespring met die aanvanklike vlak 5 inkerkering, en Suid-Afrika het indrukwekkend vertoon met die beperking van die verspreiding van die siekte. Dit lyk egter nou of hul die kluts kwyt geraak het en aandring op sommige kinderagtige regulasies wat waarskynlik meer bydra tot die frustrasie van die bevolking as wat dit die pandemie help beheer. Die SAVV, in samewerking met die SAVR, skakel voortdurend met DALRRD deurdieHoofveearts,DrMikeModisane,omsekertemaakdatonsCovid-19 riglyne aan die staatsregulasies voldoen en terselfdertyd omvoorspraak te maak rakende belangrike dieregesondheid en –welsyn aspekte. Die SAVV Covid-19 inbellyn het ons ook besig gehou met vrae oor die interpretasie van inkerkeringsregulasies en riglyne. Die kwessie van sterilisasies, veral by dierewelsynorganisasies en skuilings, aanneming van diere wat op straat gelaat of net opgegee was en die was, borsel en skeer van troeteldiere vir gesondheid- of welsyn redes was alles kritiese onderwerpewaaroor onsmet die regering geskakel het. Ons is bly dat ons toestemming kon kry vir sterilisasies en was, skeer en borsel, maar wag steeds vir toestemming vir die voortgesette aanneming van diere, aangesien is COGTA besluit het dat dit nie ŉ noodsaaklike diens is nie. V-Tech se grootse gebaar omdie SAVV by te staanmet openbare skakeling en bemarking was uiters suksesvol in die bevordering van die SAVV en om meer blootstelling inverskeiemedia tekry. Nienet verbeter dit diebeeldvan beidedieSAVVendieprofessienie,maar het ook talleplatformsbeskikbaar facilitation of practical experience for the vet students. The SAVA and the SAVC are supporting the Dean to lobby for the students to return responsibly, as soonaspossible, toprevent amajor bottleneck in theacademic andpractical programme. At this stage it appears that the sixthyears will still have threemonths of practical left when the fifth years are due to enter their clinical year in August 2020. It may therefore be necessary for the sixth years to complete a threemonth internship at a private practice, rather than the usual twoweek elective. This may be a win-win situation for the students, vet practices and the faculty as the almost graduated students should prove quite useful in that period as they will have a chance to really learn how the practice functions in their extended practical. These are our future vets, so please assist in preventing them from falling too far behind. SAVA is looking at howwe can rewardmembers who take on students for extended practical experience during this time. Exciting news is that Health andWelfare Seta appears to have approved increased funding for the combined SAVA/SAVCmentorship programme. This means that we should be able tomentor all the 2021 CCS vets. This Covid-19-pandemic has changed howwe practice veterinary science, live, exercise, study and worship. It is likely to have a long lasting effect in these fields and particularly in howwe travel and gather for meetings and conferences. On the plus side it has forced us to embrace technology further with Zoommeetings andwebinars tomention but a few. SAVAhas been able to operate efficientlywith internetmodalities and SAVETCON has replaced lost conferences with webinars. We will be able to make significant savings on travel to supplement lost income but look forward to be able to fellowship in person relatively soon. Thank you as always to SAVA MD Gert Steyn for his tireless efforts, the Vethouse team for their dedication, and the Board of Directors for their input and support. A special thank you goes to Dr Manfred Rohwer, who is stepping doing from the SAVA BoD, to allow SAEVA Past President Dr Terry Casey to take his place. Manfred, your insight, dedication and acumen will be sorely missed, and your efforts to strengthen the relationship between SAVA and SAEVA will always be appreciated. We are grateful that you remain on the SAVETCON Board. I would also like to thank my colleagues at Kowie Vet Clinic for their patience as the Association takes up so much of my time and attention and of course my wife Annamie for her love, support and sacrifice. May our Lord God continue to bless us, guide us and keep us safe as He guards over our beloved country, it`s faithful people and its animals. Yours in solidarity and safety v Leon *************************************************************** From the President