Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVM&S) is a professional degree programme designed to train veterinarians with adequate theoretical, practical, technological knowledge and skills in the treatment and control of animal diseases. Early part of the BVM&S programme will cover pre-clinical courses (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, microbiology, parasitology, immunology and animal production sciences. The later part comprises clinical courses (medicine, theriogenology, therapeutics, surgery and public health).
Since its inception in 1939, Egerton University has continuously trained competent diploma graduates in Animal Husbandry and Health from East and Central African region. The BVM&S programme is in response to the increasing demand of veterinarians to address animal health issues in the horn of Africa. Kenya‘s economy depends largely on agriculture. The rapid annual population growth of 3.4% (2009 population census), requires a 4.0% growth in food production. The country‘s average Gross Domestic Product from Agriculture is 42%., while contribution from the livestock sector to the total Gross Domestic Product is only 10% (Republic of Kenya, 2002). This puts a high demand on livestock production, which has resulted to major changes in animal production systems, tending towards intensification. These changes are posing new challenges in animal disease management requiring an understanding in veterinary medicine. In the last three decades the effectiveness of animal health services delivery has seriously declined in developing countries, especially in Africa. This could be attributed to high cost of inputs and veterinary services, emerging livestock diseases due to climate change and shortage of veterinarians to mitigate food security. The general trend in services delivery in Kenya is towards privatization of veterinary practice. There is therefore a need to train more veterinarians equipped to meet challenges in the detection and control of endemic and emerging animal diseases. Kenya‘s 2030 vision is anchored on three key pillars: economic, social and political governance. The university is strategizing to make direct contributions to the social pillar specifically the education sector vision which is to have globally competitive quality education, training and research for sustainable livestock through this veterinary programme. Egerton University is endowed with qualified academic staff and ample teaching facilities including a demonstration and commercial farm, modern abattoir, diagnostic and research
laboratories, as well as a community based ambulatory clinical service ideally suitable for veterinary training in the region.