It has long been recognised that community-based animal health workers (CAHWs), who are veterinary paraprofessionals working within livestock-owning communities, have a role in the delivery of animal health services, especially in developing countries. More recently the World Organisation for Animal Health, the Organisation International des Epizooties (OIE), has recognised the significance of this cadre of paraprofessionals.
By being a part of the community for which they help to provide veterinary services, CAHWs can extend the outreach and efficiency of their national State Veterinary Service, for example, by providing reports of disease outbreaks from remote areas which would not otherwise be regularly generated. At the same time, CAHWs can provide a basic clinical service to livestock owners in places that are poorly served by veterinarians, public or private.