Associations work to stamp out use of dog and cat meat

Associations boost actions stamping out dog and cat meats for healthcare purposes in Vietnam

The training featured in-depth expert coaching and open discussions on feasible actions that TM practitioners will take after the event. Activities include verbal consultation with patients and peers; placement of behaviour change messaging and visual discouragement of the use of dog and cat meat in TM clinic’s communication channels.

The Ha Nam Traditional Medicine Association, one of the Vietnam Oriental Traditional Medicine Association(VOTMA) members, pledges to support the Initiative by training their TM practitioner network on knowledge and data relating to the trade and consumption of dogs and cats for meat; possible healthcare risks to traders and eaters, and methods and tools to advocate the target audience group to stop their behaviours.

Rahul Sehgal, director of international advocacy at the Soi Dog Internationa Foundation said, “Stopping the demand side for dog and cat meat contributes to disrupting the trade dynamics. The partnership with VOTMA and Ha Nam Traditional Medicine Association is crucial to shifting Vietnamese consumers to sustainable, healthy, and safe medicinal treatment options. We hope that each TM practitioner will raise their voice and take actions that will create a ripple effect against the practice in society. It ultimately will help stop the dog-cat meat trade issues in the country.”

Pham Ngoc Thuan, head of Ha Nam Traditional Medicine Association said, “We are in favour of the Initiative because we recognise the benefits of removing non-scientific TM ingredients and/or products for public health, and more than that, it is for the sustainable development of Vietnam TM reputation.

"The Association commits to assign and monitor our TM individuals in disseminating the zero-tolerance message against the consumption of dog and cat meat and guiding our patients towards safer natural-based ingredients”.

Bui Thi Duyen, social and behaviour change director of Intelligentmedia said, “To the event, we bring behavioural science knowledge and techniques complementing for the TM practitioners’ capacity when they need to speak to and persuade their patients on new issues. The appropriate messaging and clear evidence on the consequences of consuming dog and cat meat help make the arguments more persuasive and guarantee sustained change of behaviours.”

After the training, the Ha Nam Traditional Medicine Association and their TM practitioners will start taking action to erase the belief in using dog and cat meat for disease treatment and the promotion of wellness.

Low vaccination rates and dog smuggling aiding transmission in Vietnam Vietnam’s national rabies control efforts have been proving to be incrementally effective, yet some risks still persist due to free-roaming animals, some lack of awareness, the dog meat trade, and a low proportion of vaccinated pets.

VOTMA calls for reduction in dog and cat meat Dog and cat meat has been associated with various health benefits throughout the 4,000 years of traditional medicine in Vietnam, where animal-based remedies and ingredients are widely prescribed and passed down from generation to generation.

Secondary school students to be educated on dog and cat meat More than 30 Hanoi secondary school teachers gathered on November 3 to exchange knowledge and discuss techniques on how to incorporate the issue of dog- and cat-meat consumption into their daily lessons.