Submitted by admin on Fri, 01/06/2012 - 00:00
We
are proud to support charities locally and international. Recently, we
were able to provide a helping hand to the veterinary team KACHEP
(Karamoja Christian Ethnoveterinary Project) in Uganda. Here is a
touching letter sent in by one of the volunteers.
"Hi, my name is Melissa Graham and I have just finished the first
three years of my Veterinary Science degree at Charles Sturt University
in Wagga Wagga, NSW. This year I have taken a year off studies to live
in the Karamoja region of Northeast Uganda to work with a Veterinary
mission team called KACHEP (Karamoja Christian Ethnoveterinary Project).
KACHEP is a non-governmental, non-profit charitable organisation with
headquarters located in the Moroto District and field offices in
Nabilatuk and Iriiri Bokora in the Karamoja region. It was started in
1998 under the auspices of the worldwide organisation, Christian
Veterinary Mission.
The project focuses on livestock development with the goal of promoting the use of native medicinal plants as livestock medicine, because most of the people can't afford modern medicines. The aim is to improve thelivelihoods of the Karamojong people through re-establishment of a sustainable agro-pastoral society.
I arrived at the end of March and after a long and hot bus ride on very rough tracks, finally reached my home for the next 9 months. The Karamojong people are devoted to their animals and just after I arrived was the monthly gathering when KACHEP spray the local cows, sheep or goats for free, against ticks, and the dogs and cats get vaccinated against rabies. The sheep are nothing like the sheep I have ever seen before! The only way I can tell the difference between a sheep and a goat here is that the sheep have a down-turned tail and the goat's tail points up. The cows are gorgeous and tiny! Typically an adult weighs only 200kg and is so calm and docile (again nothing like most cattle I've been around) and they look completely different to what I know. Like a small Brahman (actually the breed is called Zulu) with the hump like a camel on their backs.
As well as this we treated any sick animals for a low cost (just to
cover the medicine). Karina (a vet from Germany) and myself received
sick cows into our “office” (under a shady tree) and we'd gather a
history (name, signalment, symptoms, any treatment yet, etc) then do a
physical exam from head to toe (TPR, check nose, mouth, ears (very
important for ticks) check skin, feet- foot rot, around the udder/pisel,
etc.) Almost every case was tick related which was cool because I have
never had much to do with these little ectoparasites before and so
learnt a lot! The most difficult case that day was a young steer which
had been attacked by a hyena!
Last week we gave out female goats to vulnerable women, mostly widows and young unmarried mothers who have no one to support them. In this project each woman receives a 12 month old goat which is ear tagged. The first female kid the goat has she gives back to the project to be raised for another woman. Any male kids and subsequent females she can keep and sell or raise a small flock. It was very exciting to be part of giving them a helping hand.
I’d like to pass on the very grateful thanks to your practice for the equipment you donated including stethoscopes, surgical instruments, blades and even a portable operating table! (My checked in luggage limit was challenging!)
Uganda is on the equator and a cool thing that comes with that is that the sunsets and sunrises are quick and spectacular. Also, because we are on the equator we can see both the northern and southern hemisphere star constellations! So I can see the big dipper on one side of the sky (to the right of the moon) and then turn and see the Southern Cross on the other side!"
The project focuses on livestock development with the goal of promoting the use of native medicinal plants as livestock medicine, because most of the people can't afford modern medicines. The aim is to improve thelivelihoods of the Karamojong people through re-establishment of a sustainable agro-pastoral society.
I arrived at the end of March and after a long and hot bus ride on very rough tracks, finally reached my home for the next 9 months. The Karamojong people are devoted to their animals and just after I arrived was the monthly gathering when KACHEP spray the local cows, sheep or goats for free, against ticks, and the dogs and cats get vaccinated against rabies. The sheep are nothing like the sheep I have ever seen before! The only way I can tell the difference between a sheep and a goat here is that the sheep have a down-turned tail and the goat's tail points up. The cows are gorgeous and tiny! Typically an adult weighs only 200kg and is so calm and docile (again nothing like most cattle I've been around) and they look completely different to what I know. Like a small Brahman (actually the breed is called Zulu) with the hump like a camel on their backs.
Last week we gave out female goats to vulnerable women, mostly widows and young unmarried mothers who have no one to support them. In this project each woman receives a 12 month old goat which is ear tagged. The first female kid the goat has she gives back to the project to be raised for another woman. Any male kids and subsequent females she can keep and sell or raise a small flock. It was very exciting to be part of giving them a helping hand.
I’d like to pass on the very grateful thanks to your practice for the equipment you donated including stethoscopes, surgical instruments, blades and even a portable operating table! (My checked in luggage limit was challenging!)
Uganda is on the equator and a cool thing that comes with that is that the sunsets and sunrises are quick and spectacular. Also, because we are on the equator we can see both the northern and southern hemisphere star constellations! So I can see the big dipper on one side of the sky (to the right of the moon) and then turn and see the Southern Cross on the other side!"
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