Your data on MRCVSonline
The nature of the services provided by Vision Media means that we might obtain certain information about you.
Please read our Data Protection and Privacy Policy for details.

In addition, (with your consent) some parts of our website may store a 'cookie' in your browser for the purposes of
functionality or performance monitoring.
Click here to manage your settings.
If you would like to forward this story on to a friend, simply fill in the form below and click send.

Your friend's email:
Your email:
Your name:
 
 
Send Cancel

Brooke to build three new vet clinics in Ethiopia
Ethiopia has 8.8 million donkeys which are vital for transportation.
They will help 20,000 working horses and donkeys each year.

Brooke, a charity for working horses and donkeys, has begun work on three additional veterinary clinics in rural areas of Ethiopia.

The practices will focus on preventative care to save the lives of working animals in the local community. They are to be built in the rural areas of Shashamane, Akaki and Halaba, where Brooke says there is an urgent need for veterinary care.

The additional clinics will see local service providers, trained by Brooke, provide healthcare and advice for working horses and donkeys. This will include farriery, handling advice and improved harnessing.

Brooke’s new clinics will be equipped with a pharmacy, a laboratory and a treatment room. There will also be a shelter where animals can rest in the shade.

They are expected to help around 20,000 animals each year.

These services form part of Brooke’s mission to improve vaccination services and animal health infrastructure in Ethiopia, where small-scale farmers depend on equines for their livelihood.

Ethiopia has one of the largest working equine populations globally. The country has 8.8 million donkeys which are vital for transportation, reducing communities’ travel time for water collection, firewood gathering, and market trips.

Working equines also reduce the gendered workload of women and girls, meaning they can spend more time in education.

However veterinary services are often lacking in the area, especially in rural areas. This can lead to suffering and loss of life when sick or injured animals are left untreated.

Brooke aims to transform the animal health and welfare by making immediate, long-term changes to help vulnerable animals as well as local communities.

The QATO Foundation, which promotes animal welfare under human care, will be financing the construction and equipment for the Shashamane clinic.

Laura Skippen, head of animal welfare at Brooke, said: "Supporting the construction of these clinics will not only help thousands of animals receive better care right now, but importantly ensure that future generations of hardworking animals benefit too."  

Image © Shutterstock

Become a member or log in to add this story to your CPD history

BEVA gives RVNs right to vote

News Story 1
 The British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA) is to allow its registered veterinary nurse (RVN) members the right to vote.

RVN members will now be able to take part in key decision-making processes and stand for BEVA council.

Marie Rippingale, chair of BEVA's Nurse Committee, said: "I am very proud to be a part of BEVA.

"This change will help to empower nurses to speak up and contribute, but more importantly, it will give them an opportunity to collaborate with other members of the equine veterinary profession to bring about change that is positive for all." 

Click here for more...
News Shorts
Farmer survey to reveal on-farm impact of bluetongue

A nationwide survey has been launched to better understand how the bluetongue virus is affecting UK farms.

Results will inform the support that farmers receive for bluetongue, as well as preparing the livestock industry for the future.

The short online survey is open to all livestock farmers, regardless of whether they've had a confirmed case of bluetongue on their farm. It asks how many animals have been affected, the severity of their clinical signs and how it has impacted farm business.

The survey takes five minutes to complete and is fully anonymous.

It is led by Fiona Lovatt, of Flock Health Limited, and the Ruminant Health & Welfare bluetongue working group, in collaboration with AHDB and the University of Nottingham.

Dr Lovatt says: "We need to find out what level of clinical signs farmers are seeing in their animals, whether they are experiencing mortality with BTV-3 cases, and what their appetite is to vaccinate in future for bluetongue serotype 3."

The survey can be found here.