We're proud to provide expert training opportunities for vets all around the world to make lasting change to animal welfare. Our centre in Goa, India, is one of five WVS International Training Centres (ITCs) located around the globe, providing free expert care and world-class training.
Our ITCs act as key hubs for treating thousands of animals in need of care each year, as well as training for both local and international veterinary professionals. One of the training courses offered for veterinarians is our surgical training course which focuses on teaching spaying and neutering skills, building surgical confidence, and learning best practice in animal welfare, especially for resource-limited settings.
Last year, our team at WVS Goa trained over 200 veterinarians through our surgical courses.
Hear from Dr Abhiramy Krishna, an Indian veterinarian who recently attended one of our courses in Goa:
"Before attending this course, I lacked confidence in my surgical skills, having little to no hands-on experience. However, after just two weeks of training, I now feel confident in performing male castration and female spaying.
This course wasn't solely focused on training; it also emphasised the importance of Animal Birth Control (ABC) in our society and addressed one of the most pressing challenges: eradicating rabies in India without compromising animal welfare.
"I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all the staff for providing a comfortable and enriching experience. The residential vets were incredibly supportive at every stage, ensuring that all my doubts were clarified. Their passion for their work was palpable."
I am immensely thankful for the opportunity to learn, meet new people, including those from overseas, and work towards a common goal of animal welfare. I am leaving with cherished memories, newfound knowledge, and a sense of fulfilment. Time flew by so quickly, filled with enjoyable moments. I am proud to be part of the WVS community and to have contributed to animal welfare efforts. Thank you for allowing me to be part of this journey."
Although the majority of our course participants in Goa are from India, we also welcome vets and veterinary students from all different parts of the world to join us for surgical training. The course not only offers participants an opportunity to get hands-on surgical experience, but also to make a difference for animals in places where access to veterinary care is limited.
Read our Q&A with vet student, Alannah Gow, from Australia:
What would you say to someone thinking of doing the course in Goa?
The WVS program is 110% worthwhile. Not only do you gain great surgical skills, but you will also cultivate great relationships with the trainers there that makes the experience so much more enjoyable. It will also give you the opportunity to travel to a beautiful part of the world that is not overly populated by international travellers.
What does a typical day look like on a WVS training course?
Our days begun with the supplied breakfast around 8:30am, then the participants were split in two, with one group going to assess yesterday's patients and the other group going to premedicate that day's patients. Patients would be brought into the prep area and then into the surgery room. Most of the days each participant would undertake one male and one female surgery, as well as monitor the anaesthesia of two patients. Then in the afternoon, we sometimes had a lecture or would be finished for the day and had time to explore the area.
Aside from the surgical training what was your favourite part about the trip?
Goa is a unique part of India in that the culture there is somewhat westernised, however, still contains rich history and parts of traditional culture for visitors to experience. This meant that participants on our trip, who did not have much overseas travel experience, felt comfortable and welcomed in Goa. During our stay we had the option of relaxing at the beach, enjoying good food, shopping, or off-roading through the forest and swimming at a waterfall.
Which parts of the training course did you find most valuable?
I found that the veterinarians at WVS Goa were very skilled at intradermal suturing and were very good at explaining their technique. Over the course of the two week program, my intradermal sutures improved leaps and bounds, compared to when I arrived. Without this program, I doubt that I would ever have gotten the opportunity to learn this skill and have consistent practice over a period of time.
How do you feel the course will help to prepare you for your future plans?
The WVS training course enabled me to develop my surgical skills in a way that would otherwise not have been possible. As most veterinary students would know, veterinary clinics are very busy and the supervising veterinarians are often too busy to teach students and allow them to take their time while learning new skills. However, WVS Goa was perfectly set up to accommodate a calm and enjoyable learning experience, while also providing the opportunity to do some more complex surgeries, such as a pregnant bitch ovariohysterectomy. This experience has made me more confident performing surgical procedures, which means I will get more opportunities to practice during placement.
Are you interested in joining one of our surgical training course?
Find out more information and apply for our surgical training courses in India and Thailand here.