Complaints have been raised that a class of self-styled and unqualified animal healers has become more active in all 84 villages of the eight unions of Brahmanpara upazila in Cumilla. Although they have neither the necessary training nor any institutional certificate, they move from village to village with large bags on their shoulders and the word “doctor” written on their motorcycles, presenting themselves as animal doctors.
It is alleged that because of the wrong treatment and indiscriminate use of antibiotics by these self-styled healers, farmers are anxious about their livestock.
Local sources said farmers once had to depend on the upazila livestock department and hospital for treating their animals. These days the self-styled healers can be seen coming and going in villages across the upazila morning and evening. They go from house to house treating livestock. It is alleged that some are taking large sums of money by exploiting the opportunity.
Abdul Jalil, a resident of the Chandla Karim area of the upazila, said: “We used to have to go to the livestock office to have animals treated. Now bogus healers turn up at our homes morning and evening. They give wrong treatment and take money from the farmers.”
A local veterinary medicine seller, speaking on condition of anonymity, said many of these self-styled healers have no proper knowledge of diagnosing livestock disease or of applying medicine. Some of those riding around on motorcycles with large bags are administering antibiotics as they see fit. That could harm the health of the animals and also raise the risk of antibiotic-resistant organisms developing in future.
Responding to the allegations, one self-styled animal healer said on condition of anonymity: “It is better to do something for a living than to sit around unemployed. I started treating animals after a few months of ordinary training. If a disease is beyond us, we refer it to the upazila livestock officer.”
Asked about the matter, Brahmanpara upazila livestock officer Dr Atikur Rahman said: “The prevalence of bogus and unqualified animal healers in the upazila has risen comparatively. If they give wrong treatment it can harm the livestock. There is a risk of many cows and calves being permanently damaged.”
He said: “In treating livestock, diagnosis and the application of the right medicine are extremely important. The proper rules need to be followed, particularly in the use of antibiotics.”
Local farmers said livestock is the main source of income for many of them. If an animal dies or is permanently disabled through wrong treatment, they face heavy financial loss. Their complaint is that the identity and qualifications of the people going from village to village giving treatment are never checked.
Local people have called on the livestock department to take effective steps, checking the activities of the self-styled and unregistered animal healers and taking the necessary measures, while also raising awareness among farmers.