The vital role of animal technologists in safeguarding animal health and strengthening biosecurity took centre stage at a recent event in Gauteng. During the ceremony, newly qualified technologists were awarded their certificates and encouraged to dive straight into action, ensuring the country is secure from outbreak.
Deputy minister of higher education and training Buti Manamela said the government is concerned about the small number of young people exploring the career path.
“This momentous occasion highlights the critical role of laboratory animal technology in the scientific and medical community.
“Laboratory animal technologists are essential in ensuring the humane treatment of animals in research settings, maintaining the ethical and scientific integrity of groundbreaking studies that contribute to both human and animal health,” he said.
SA needs more animal technologists
Manamela said the establishment of the Laboratory of Animal Technologists Association was a step in the right direction to ensure challenges faced by professionals are addressed, opportunities are presented to young people, and there is one voice that speaks with all the stakeholders.
“To our graduates as laboratory animal technologists, you will be expected to play a critical role in the advancement of science, research and medicine. Your expertise will contribute to groundbreaking discoveries which is the key we are in dire need of,” he said.
Manamela said it is concerning that the country has only 23 laboratory animal technologists and there is a need to train more.
Related stories
- Vets remain inaccessible to small-scale farmers
- Vets in peril: Mzansi faces looming animal health crisis
- Strong veterinary services vital to livestock export success
“While stakeholders have assured me that they going to work on it, the challenge to our graduates is to go out there and make it fashionable to your peers. We need to combat outbreaks that devastate our animals and humans, we need to be proactive.
“Laboratory animal technology is a scarce skill that plays a pivotal role in animal research of communicable diseases,” Manamela said.
Addressing training gaps
He said animal technologists play a crucial role in agriculture, particularly in sectors that involve livestock farming, animal breeding, veterinary care, and food production.
“With a growing demand for food and pressure to minimise environmental impact, animal technologists are vital in promoting more sustainable farming practices.
“Animal technologists also serve as educators and trainers for farmers and farmworkers, sharing knowledge about animal care practices, emerging technologies, and animal health,” he said.
Meanwhile, the South African Veterinary Council (SAVC) said they were excited by the graduation of ten new animal technologists and added this was a move in the right direction amid the shortage.
“Ten candidates successfully completed the first-ever registration examination for laboratory animal technologists (LATs) in March and August. This milestone is a significant move toward increasing the number of registered LATs, vital to a key para-veterinary profession.
“It reflects our commitment to addressing training gaps and advancing the professionalism of the sector,” SAVC stated.
READ NEXT: Mpumalanga champions climate-smart farming strategies
Sign up for Mzansi Today: Your daily take on the news and happenings from the agriculture value chain
