In a bid to provide services for the care of poultry and animals during the Covid-19 pandemic Nepal Veterinary Association has started a free round-the-clock free phone consultation service for owners across the country from this week.

Consultant vets, who are members of the association, have been replying to the calls since Tuesday.

“On an average, in the past three days we have gotten around 100 calls per day from animal owners,” said Sital Kaji Shrestha, president of the association. “Basically we give solutions to the problems people face with their farm livestock and pet animals. Also, we refer them to a vet clinic nearby in cases of emergency, because the mobility of people has been restricted.”

Shrestha said that the association has a roster of 300 vets for consultation.

“We will soon start free video consultation services,” said Shrestha.

According to the Association, 40 percent of telephone queries come from poultry farm owners, 40 percent regarding other farm animals such as goats, buffaloes and cows and 20 percent from pet owners.

Shrestha said the association has plans to streamline queries whereby service seekers will be directed through an automated phone service to specialists depending on what they are seeking service for.

New services will be available in the coming week.

The service is available at toll free number 1159 from Nepal Telecom phone numbers throughout the pandemic.