A paravet course runs 24 weeks. The curriculum of the training includes diagnosis and treatment of the most frequently occurring diseases, vaccination of animals, and training in extension of best practices in animal health and production to farmers. Practical training is a very important element in the paravet curriculum. For handling, diagnosing and treating of animals will be the major tasks of the future paravet. Also a seminar on business development is part of the paravet course. After all, as private entrepreneur a paravet must be able to run his or her small business effectively. After graduation, the paravets return to their villages to start a veterinary field unit, supported by DCA. Over the years, DCA has trained more than 1,000 paravets. Most graduates are now working in one of DCA’s field programmes or are operating their VFUs which are fully privatised.