Evaluating Remote Community-Based Veterinary Care Networks for Rural Livestock Health in Malawi

Remote community-based veterinary care networks have been proposed as a solution to improve livestock health in rural areas of Malawi. A mixed-methods approach was employed, including surveys, focus groups, and observational assessments to gather data from both veterinary practitioners and livestock owners across various regions of Malawi. Community-based veterinary care networks significantly improved access to veterinary services for rural livestock owners (85% reported increased availability), though cost-sharing mechanisms need refinement to maintain sustainability. The study highlights the potential benefits of community-driven veterinary care in improving livestock health, particularly in underserved rural areas. However, further implementation and research are needed to address identified challenges. Further investment is recommended in establishing robust community-based networks with clear cost-sharing models to ensure long-term sustainability and equitable access to veterinary services. Remote Veterinary Care, Community Engagement, Livestock Health, Sustainability, Malawi Treatment effect was estimated with logit(pᵢ)=β₀+β^ Xᵢ, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.