Bahir Dar, Ethiopia (July 23, 2026) - In a major step toward transforming regional animal health services, Bahir Dar University’s School of Veterinary Medicine (SVM-BDU), in partnership with Brooke Ethiopia, hosted a consultative workshop at Naki Hotel, Bahir Dar. The event brought together key leaders from government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the private livestock sector to refine strategic plans for establishing a first-of-its-kind Community Veterinary Pharmacy. Designed as a targeted intervention, the proposed pharmacy will serve as a reliable hub for accessible, high-quality essential veterinary medicines across the Amhara Region, directly benefiting smallholder livestock keepers as well as public and private animal health facilities.

Opening the workshop, Professor Essey Kebede, Academic Vice President of Bahir Dar University, commended the School of Veterinary Medicine for its proactive leadership and community-focused vision. He noted that despite being a relatively young school, the SVM continues to set an exemplary standard in community engagement. Prof. Essey highlighted that this initiative, powered by a valuable partnership with Brooke Ethiopia, directly reflects the university’s core mission to deliver research-driven, community-centered solutions. He expressed strong confidence that the pharmacy will serve as a benchmark model for supporting livestock owners, empowering veterinary professionals, and driving regional agricultural productivity.

Presenting the rationale behind the initiative, Dr. Mussie Hailemelekot outlined the persistent hurdles currently facing the livestock sector, including restricted access to quality drugs, widespread irrational drug use, weak regulatory enforcement, emerging antimicrobial resistance, and a heavy reliance on imports. He emphasized the strength of the university's ongoing collaboration with Brooke Ethiopia, an international animal welfare organization operating in Ethiopia since 2006 and partnering with SVM-BDU since 2023, to effectively address these critical systemic gaps.

Building on this groundwork, Dr. Dehninet Terefe of the SVM detailed the project’s strategic roadmap, aiming to establish the pharmacy as a leading national model for sustainable veterinary drug delivery. The initiative will follow a phased implementation framework that progresses from initial establishment and service expansion to ultimately transitioning into a self-sustaining enterprise equipped with direct supply and importation capabilities. Supported by a detailed budget framework, Dr. Dehninet acknowledged the collective dedication of all partners working to bring the vision to life.

An interactive reflection session, co-led by SVM Dean Dr. Yeshwas Ferede and Dr. Zewdu Emiru, allowed stakeholders to actively shape the operational strategy. Participants contributed valuable insights on balancing community benefit with commercial viability, strengthening domestic production to reduce import dependency, and ensuring fair pricing for smallholders. The discussion also highlighted the necessity of building the technical capacity of pharmacy staff, integrating clinical support systems, maintaining transparent supply chains, and strictly enforcing rational drug use protocols.

In his closing remarks, Dr. Zewdu Emiru expressed sincere appreciation to all participants for their active engagement and constructive feedback. He reaffirmed Bahir Dar University’s commitment to integrating stakeholder recommendations into the final design and rollout of the pharmacy. Dr. Zewdu emphasized that sustained multi-stakeholder collaboration, uniting higher education, regional government, development partners like Brooke Ethiopia, and the private sector, is essential for achieving long-term improvements in livestock health and veterinary service delivery throughout the region.
 

By: Dr. Dagmawi Yitbarek, SVM Website Administrator