RVC and VetAid Appeal Supported by the Veterinary Times raises over £12,000 to help Vets in drought ravaged Kenya
09 January 2012
Launched in response to the worst drought in living memory in the Horn of Africa, an emergency appeal run by the Royal Veterinary College and VetAid in Kenya supported by the Veterinary Times has raised over £12,000.
The money raised has been used to support a government veterinary team in the Tana Delta District of Kenya by hiring vehicles and purchasing vaccination equipment. This initiative has already succeeded in vaccinating 125,000 cattle and 25,000 camels against Blackquarter and Anthrax, whilst 15,000 sheep and goats have been vaccinated against Peste des Petits Ruminants, Contagious Caprine Pleuropneumonia and Goat Pox. All these animals have also been dewormed with broad spectrum anthelmintics to help reduce parasitic stress.
These vaccinations were vital after more than one million cattle and small stock were forced into the Tana Delta district in search of grazing. Crowded together these weakened animals were at major risk of infectious and parasitic disease, threatening the existence of many communities which rely on breeding livestock.
As a small organisation VetAid has been particularly effective in its flexibility and willingness to work in some of the most remote areas of the country where help is most urgently needed. The campaign will need to continue in order to help the pastoralists rebuild their herds and return to their traditional grazing areas.
Nick Short at the Royal Veterinary College said: "A significant component of the campaign's success was in the form of a legacy directed to VetAid Kenya in order to assist with this crisis that was so publically promoted in the Vet Times. I cannot emphasise enough how grateful VetAid is for this support. It really makes a difference and helps ensure the charity can continue to work where the need is greatest to prevent and to manage crises affecting livestock and livelihoods."
Further Information
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