Brooke to build three new vet clinics in Ethiopia
Ethiopia has 8.8 million donkeys which are vital for transportation.
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."
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Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
