Putting into practice what she has learnt

“Studying a Masters of Veterinary Studies at the University of Sydney was a once- in-a-lifetime experience, which changed my life,” says Baby Kaurivi, a veterinarian from Namibia, who completed her Masters in 2009 and returned home to her position of State Veterinarian under the Ministry of Agriculture. Baby soon relocated from Mariental to Windhoek, where more opportunities in management were available.

“I proposed a restructuring of our Veterinary Directorate to accommodate the post of a Veterinary Specialist in Artificial Breeding under the Ministry, which would also cater for genetic material (semen and embryo) conservation,” she says.

Since her return, Baby has been conducting testing on bulls, and has also trained farmers on various breeding program improvements. She has subsequently trained communal farmers on similar programs to commemorate a recent World Veterinary Day.

“Being the only veterinarian in Namibia specialising in ruminant reproduction, I was selected as part of a veterinary delegation on a fact-finding mission to England and the USA to seek ways to improve our veterinary sector trading to these markets,” she says.