(Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, 05 November 2025)- In a significant meeting held at the School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM), Bahir Dar University (BDU), and the top management team of Brooke Ethiopia reaffirmed their commitment to a strategic partnership aimed at advancing animal welfare, health, and community service.

The visit began with the Brooke Ethiopia team, led by Country Director Mr. Yohannes Kasim and Dr. Alemayehu H/Mariam, touring the University’s state-of-the-art Animal Welfare and Health Center and Veterinary Clinical Skills Laboratory. The delegates expressed great inspiration from the facilities and the energy of the SVM leadership and team.

Dr. Yeshwas Ferede, Dean of SVM, opened the formal session and expressed his profound appreciation for the existing collaboration with Brooke Ethiopia and their sustained support. Dr. Yeshwas highlighted the partnership’s deliverables and its importance to the university’s mission with a comprehensive overview of the school’s achievements, ongoing projects, and future vision, including expansion plans for the Animal Welfare and Health Center and the establishment of a Community Veterinary Pharmacy.

Dr. Mussie H/Melekot, Brooke’s Focal Person at SVM, presented updates on the third round of the Memorandum of Understanding (April 2025-March 2026), detailed past successes, including staff and student trainings, and outlined planned activities for the coming year.

A central point of the dialogue was the establishment of a Community Veterinary Pharmacy. Dr. Alemayehu H/Mariam (Project Lead, Brooke Ethiopia) recognized its potential for profound community impact, with Brooke Ethiopia committing to support its launch using available resources and affirming support for launching the pharmacy. Dr. Gebeyehu Dilnesaw, the Brooke's Bahir Dar cluster team leader, praised the conducive working environment and the team’s energy, while Dr. Leweyehu Basie, the Brooke’s animal health field officer at BDU, emphasized the importance of the pharmacy and upcoming tasks.

Mr. Yohannes Kasim commended the SVM leadership, stating, “We are committed to supporting the School as we have clear evidence that SVM works efficiently.” The meeting concluded with a shared vision for a deepened strategic partnership, including plans for specialized training, support for academic mobility programs, and the swift operationalization of the community pharmacy.

This alliance marks a promising step forward in creating sustainable impacts for animal welfare and veterinary education.
 

By: Dr. Dagmawi Yitbarek, SVM Website Administrator