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The Ha Nam Traditional Medicine Association, Soi Dog International Foundation, and Social and Behavior Change Science Agency Intelligentmedia brought together 30 provincial Traditional Medicine practitioners to provide coaching on the negative impacts of continued use of dog and cat meat for public health and needed actions to change the practices of consumers on November 10, 2023.

In Vietnam, dog and cat meat are associated with “nutrition” and “disease cure”, which has been orally passed from generation to generation. However, there are growing concerns throughout Asia spanning decades of the role the dog meat trade – from sourcing to transport, sale, slaughter, butchering, and consumption - plays in the transmission of notifiable diseases, including cholera and rabies. Also, the fact that “dog legs” or “cat bone glue” are not magical medicines.

Recently, the Vietnam Orientally Traditional Medicine Association (VOTMA), the official voice of traditional medicine individuals and associations, in collaboration with Soi Dog and Intelligentmedia, has led the movement discouraging the consumption of dog and cat meat for traditional medicine (TM) purposes. The initiative sheds light on concrete measures to eliminate the use of dog and cat meat in TM treatment.

The Ha Nam Traditional Medicine Association, one of the VOTMA members, pledges to support the Initiative by training their TM practitioner network on knowledge and data relating to the trade and consumption of dogs and cats for meat; possible healthcare risks to traders and eaters, and methods and tools to advocate the target audience group to stop their behaviors.

Mr. Rahul Sehgal, Director - International Advocacy, Soi Dog Internationa Foundation said: “Stopping the demand side for dog and cat meat contributes to disrupting the trade dynamics. The partnership with VOTMA and Ha Nam Traditional Medicine Association is crucial to shifting Vietnamese consumers to sustainable, healthy, and safe medicinal treatment options. We hope that each TM practitioner will raise their voice and take actions that will create a ripple effect against the practice in society. It ultimately helps stop the dog-cat meat trade issues in the country”.

Mr.Pham Ngoc Thuan, Head of Ha Nam Traditional Medicine Association

The training featured in-depth expert coaching and open discussions on feasible actions that TM practitioners will take after the event. Activities include verbal consultation with patients and peers; placement of behavior change messaging and visual discouraging the use of dog and cat meat in TM clinic’s communication channels (at the treatment room; on the clinic’s website, or in relevant events) and/or integration of the issues into the clinic’s communication materials.

Mr. Tran Xuan Nguyen, Head of Professional Department, Vietnam Oriental Traditional Medicine Association

Mr.Pham Ngoc Thuan, Head of Ha Nam Traditional Medicine Association said: “We are in the flavor of the Initiative because we recognize the benefits of removing non-scientific TM ingredients and/or products for public health and more than that the sustainable development of Vietnam TM reputation. The Association commits to assign and monitor our TM individuals in disseminating the zero-tolerance message against the consumption of dog and cat meat and guiding our patients towards safer natural-based ingredients”.
The event witnessed how social, and behavior change techniques are employed, i.e., how, where, and when TM practitioners can convince patients to stop using dog and cat meats; how behavior change practice can be measured and when the social norm against the practice is established.

Ms. Ha Dang My Linh - Campaign Manager to Prevent Dog and Cat Meat Trade in Vietnam

Mrs. Bui Thi Duyen, Social and Behavior Change Director of Intelligentmedia said: “We bring in the event the behavioral science knowledge and techniques complementing for the TM practitioners’ capacity when they need to speak to and persuade their patients on new issues. The appropriate messaging and clear evidence on consequences of consuming dog and cat meat help make the arguments more persuasive and guarantee sustained change of behaviors”.

Five Traditional Medicine practitioners representing their own Traditional Medicine Clinics in Hanoi signed a pledge against DCM trade and consumption

After the training, Ha Nam Traditional Medicine Association and their TM practitioners will start taking action to erase the belief in using dog and cat meats for disease treatment and/or promotion of wellness.