Promoting and monitoring antimicrobial stewardship using veterinary vocational schools in the Democratic Republic of Congo

We conducted a feasibility study of antibiotic stewardship promotion, monitoring and education through veterinary vocational schools using semi-structured interviews and Strength, Weakness, Opportunity, and Threats analysis. Seventeen of the 35 veterinary vocational schools of the Kongo Central Province were surveyed. We report four key results. First, all schools were government funded with personnel capable of promoting, monitoring and educating farmers and communities. Second, these schools were well distributed across the country which gives them access to a greater number of farmers. Third, faculty from these schools provided the bulk of veterinary services in their catchment areas. Fourth, vocational schools would benefit from support from universities. This support could focus on transfer of teaching skills and resources sharing.