African Clinical Veterinary Library App (ACVLA)

Introduction

Across many African countries, veterinary paraprofessionals (VPPs) are responsible for the majority of frontline livestock healthcare, conducting an estimated 80% of animal health visits. While veterinary surgeons provide oversight and support, geographical challenges, limited connectivity, and resource constraints can make consistent supervision difficult. As a result, diagnostic accuracy and treatment decisions can vary significantly.

To address these challenges, NADIS (National Animal Disease Information Service), in collaboration with the African Veterinary Technicians Association (AVTA), is developing the African Clinical Veterinary Library App (ACVLA). The platform is designed to strengthen clinical decision-making, improve treatment outcomes, and enhance the professional capabilities of veterinary paraprofessionals working throughout Africa.

Materials and Methods

The ACVLA has been developed around a practical, field-based approach to disease recognition. Rather than relying heavily on veterinary terminology, the application enables users to identify clinical signs through visual image recognition, making the system accessible regardless of literacy level or technical training. By selecting the clinical signs observed in an animal, users are guided through embedded diagnostic algorithms that generate a list of likely disease conditions.

The platform also supports responsible medicine use. Counterfeit veterinary medicines remain a significant challenge across parts of Africa, reducing treatment effectiveness and threatening livestock productivity. Through barcode and data-matrix scanning functionality, the App allows users to verify products and access essential medicine information linked through Global Trade Item Numbers (GTINs). This includes dosage recommendations, administration guidance, withdrawal periods, storage requirements, warnings, and other critical prescribing information.

In addition, the App incorporates geolocation technology to support disease surveillance. Once a disease has been identified, anonymised disease occurrence data can be mapped alongside recorded clinical signs and laboratory confirmation status where available. This creates a valuable real-time surveillance resource capable of supporting the monitoring of transboundary animal diseases and the early detection of emerging disease threats.

Results and Discussion

NADIS is leading the development of the ACVLA platform and intends to make the App freely available to veterinary paraprofessionals across Africa. Alongside the App, NADIS will establish an online training and accreditation programme focused on clinical sign recognition, responsible medicine use, and livestock health best practice. Annual accreditation will help maintain professional standards while supporting continuous learning.

The African Veterinary Technicians Association, representing more than 130,000 veterinary paraprofessionals across over 30 African countries, will play a key role in promoting adoption, training, and engagement among its membership, helping to ensure widespread implementation and impact.

Conclusion and Implications

The African Clinical Veterinary Library App has been designed to strengthen clinical sign recognition, improve treatment decisions, and enhance animal health management across Africa. By equipping veterinary paraprofessionals with accessible diagnostic support, medicine verification tools, and ongoing professional training, the platform aims to improve livestock health outcomes while supporting the sustainability of veterinary service providers and the farming communities they serve.

Beyond individual animal care, the data generated through the platform will contribute to stronger disease surveillance systems, improved monitoring of transboundary diseases, and greater transparency within veterinary medicine supply chains, creating long-term benefits for animal health, food security, and agricultural productivity across the continent.