VWB@GDS

Last week the Ontario Veterinary College hosted the Global Development Symposium at the University of Guelph, Canada as part of the celebrations for its 150^th Anniversary.  Delegates came from all over the globe to share their experience in research and development that centred largely around the Ecohealth concept.  Among those delegates were VEVEP veterinarian Anne Drew and program co-coordinator Malavanh Chittavong who flew from Laos and Sweden respectively to share their experiences of the rabies vaccination campaign and poultry project that VWB have carried out in Lao PDR over the past 12 months.

Keynote speakers included politician and diplomat Stephen Lewis, Brian Evans, Chief Veterinary Officer of Canada and Dominique Charron, leader of the Ecohealth program at Canada’s International Development Research Centre and Veterinarians without Borders-Vétérinaires sans Frontières Canada’s own founding president, David Waltner-Toews.

Possibly more exciting than the presentations and speeches were the opportunities to chat with delegates about the great research and development programs happening worldwide such as Andria Jones-Bitton’s work on knowledge translation and research dissemination with Inuit in Iqaluit, Carol Zavaleta’s work in Peru on vulnerability of indigenous Amazonian communities to climate change and Karen Morrison’s work on ethics in population health research.  It was these conversations that were the most inspiring to keep on doing what we do!

Let’s hope that OVC makes this symposium an annual affair!

By Blanaid Donnelly

Pitch for Progress: Homemade pesticides to combat pest problems in rural Uganda

I have just returned from an enlightening four days at the Global Development Symposium in Guelph, Ontario. I had the pleasure to help represent Veterinarians without Borders at this conference. The schedule was jam packed with inspiring keynote speakers, including Mr. Stephen Lewis, and scientific presentations of exciting work that is being conducted around the globe.  It was extraordinary to see the passion towards positive sustainable change that transcended throughout the conference.

Amongst the key note speeches and scientific presentation there were ‘pitches for progress’ (pfp). A pfp was a presentation that was intended to present an idea that would change the world. Ideas ranged from creation of ‘one health’ networks, integration of one health into curriculums, and using homemade pesticides to combat pest problems in rural Uganda. The latter pitch being my own. I had the opportunity to present this pfp and receive valuable feedback that will strengthen my application and evaluation of the program.

I came up with the idea while talking with past volunteers of the Ugandan goat project. After discussing the current issues facing the farmers of the region, I was presented with the fact that their crops are being affected by pests, especially the borer worm. The Ugandan goat project works in coordination with the Foundation for Aids Orphaned Children (FAOC). FAOC has been developing a chick pea program in response to severe protein deficiency in the south west region of Uganda. Thirty-eight percent of children under five are chronically malnourished or developmentally stunted, 16% are underweight, and another 6% are acutely malnourished during illness or drought. The local diet is primarily starch based; consisting of plantains, cassava, or maize which is served with simple vegetables and sauce. Animal protein is too expensive for the majority of the farmers and only served on special occasions. The chick pea program was developed to address this issue. Using local chick pea varieties, farmers are encouraged to harvest their crop and sell a portion to increase income but retain the majority to increase their family’s protein intake. Chickpeas are known for their high quality of protein and relative ease to grow in tough conditions.

The scourge of pests is greatly decreasing the farmer’s chick pea yield.  While chemical pesticides are available, their use is unrealistic. These products are sold in bulk and are too expensive for the average farmer. These villagers often have no reliable means of transportation to obtain the pesticides. It is also not uncommon for these products to be tampered with, either watering down or adding chemicals that can be harmful to the people and animals. These chemicals are also very damaging to an unhealthy soil bed affected by years of monoculture plantain production.

What I proposed in my pfp was to experiment with different homemade pesticides using local products. From my research I came across effective pesticides made from marigold leaves, chilies, onions, garlics, and neem leaves or oil. These ingredients are boiled in water for 20 minutes or alternatively stand for 3 days. The solution is combined with soapy water and applied to the plants along with wood ash. This application is not new to Uganda. These methods have been successfully implemented at a small sustainable farm, St. Jude’s Family Projects, in central Uganda. I will be visiting this farm during my first week in Uganda to gain a better understanding of homemade pesticides and other sustainable agriculture solutions in rural Uganda.

I was nervous presenting this idea as it is beyond my formal training. When I discussed this idea with others they were often confused as to why I would address this issue and not something related to veterinary medicine. My response was always the same. Under the concept of eco-system health we are not bound to our professional limitations. Our goal is to realize a healthy population of people and animals while sustaining the environment. The pest and pesticide issue is of concern to the famers I will be working with and so I consider it my responsibility to do what I can to address the problem. A healthier chick pea crops and soil will lead to greater yields. Greater yields will improve childhood nutrition and family income. Greater income and nutrition will increase opportunities for childhood education and result in healthier immune systems, decreasing disease prevalence. Increased income will also result in more disposable income which can be used for animal vaccines, better shelters, and increased nutrition. Our animal health problems cannot be addressed by focusing on a single problem but rather by looking at the bigger picture. Healthy people and healthy environments will lead to healthier animals and more productive agricultural systems. For this to happen it needs two things. One is for people of different disciplines to explore beyond their profession. While my background is not in alternative agriculture, it did not take much for me to research potential applications for small hold farmers. The second is collaboration. I am not an expert in these techniques; my research has only scratched the surface on a vast body of knowledge. But through this research I was able to connect with people at home and abroad that are experts in this field. It is these contacts that will ultimately drive a successful project.  By collaborating with other professions, I can focus on the goats, while the experts I bring in or consult with will help to solve a problem that will further increase the health of the community.

The pitch itself flew by, but the research and preparation was extremely educational. The questions and comments from the audience created further contacts and options to explore. The entire conference had a very welcoming atmosphere. There were people from a variety of disciplines that came together to present and collaborate on One-Health. I feel very fortunate to have been able to attend and present at this conference and hope it becomes an annual event. I would like to thank VWB for their support.

One week later…

A warm and sunny day here in Thamel, Kathmandu. Enjoying my Nepalese milk tea from my hotel balcony with a beautiful view of the mountains from afar.. Sounds peaceful however this metropolitan city is far from that. Not a day goes by without the sounds of vehicles constantly honking and countless dogs barking from dusk till dawn. In the midst of all this pollution and organized chaos (as a tourist friend describes it) you can’t take away the beauty that this exotic country has to offer outside of Kathmandu. The kindness of the Nepali people, the wide variety of delicious cuisine, the splendid views of the mountains (the land of the Himalayas) and a very rich culture and history is a reminder of why so many tourists visit Nepal.

Anyone visiting this beautiful country will no doubt recognize the overpopulation of stray animals. There’s an overabundance of stray dogs wandering the streets that have sustained injuries from vehicles or abuse from humans. They suffer from starvation and are highly susceptible to illnesses due to their living conditions. The most common zoonotic disease seen in these animals is the life threatening virus rabies and sarcoptic mange(a severe skin disease caused by a mite). This evidently poses a serious public health and safety issues for the locals and tourists. This is where the KAT (Kathmandu Animal Treatment) center steps in.
I was fortunate to join the KAT team to celebrate their 8th anniversary on May 9th. It was a day that represented hope and continued progress towards improving the lives of the Nepali street dogs. Since my arrival at the center I have had the privilege to work with wonderful volunteers and staff members who dedicate their time effortlessly to make a difference. We all have one thing in common and that is to help and provide comfort to these sick and injured dogs. Sadly, not every story has a happy ending. Thus far, empirical diagnosis is the way to go due to the very limited resources and lack of diagnostic tools the center possesses. Accurate diagnosis is very limited therefore treating appropriately is very challenging. Unfortunately, this is expected for the reason that the KAT center is a non profit organization based in a developing country.

Animal Birth Control or ABC as they call it at the KAT center is a cardinal program and has been proven to reduce the stray overpopulation of dogs in the Kathmandu region since 2006 with the staggering number of 36,000. Currently the numbers have reduced to 22,000 roaming dogs in the streets of Kathmandu alone. This is work in progress and hopefully the numbers will continue to decline as the years go by and of course providing that sufficient donations are contributed towards this very important cause. Every animal that comes through the doors of the KAT center is sterilized and vaccinated against rabies before they are released or in some cases adopted.

In just one week, we were faced with many cases of HBC’s (hit by car) at the KAT center including dogs that have laid on the side of the road with fractures for an undetermined period before a Good Samaritan (if lucky) takes the initiative to transport them to our center. Unfortunately for most of these dogs as the days go by the extent of their injuries and damage to organs could not be reversed.

During our walks in the city we encounter a considerable amount of dogs with severe cases of sarcoptic mange, if left untreated this disease can be fatal. The center is currently treating a number of dogs with this condition which requires daily treatment. Unfortunately the center does not have the capacity to take in more than 50 dogs at a time. That is a very small number considering the amount of dogs roaming the streets that require some form of medical intervention. Adoptions are always an option but this is scarce in Nepal due to cultural beliefs. Community dogs are common in Nepal as the locals feed them however most dogs are not as privileged and are seen scavenging through garbage for any food scraps.
Contrary to popular belief, most of these stray dogs are not aggressive. When approached in a gentle manner they wag their tail and seek for some attention (they roll on their backs and love to have their bellies rubbed).

So far, I have met many wonderful volunteers from all walks of life and feel blessed to be surrounded by such admirable and dedicated individuals. I have no doubt made friends for life.

That is all for now, until next time!

Namaste,

Catherine

«Pourquoi est-ce que tu espionnes ce chien?»

Ce qu’il y a de merveilleux dans un projet comme celui-ci, c’est la possibilité d’entrer en contact avec la population locale. Au cours des six dernières journées, une partie de notre travail consistait en des prélèvements sanguins sur les chiens à l’étude, ce qui nous a permis de rencontrer quelques propriétaires, en allant de porte en porte. Nous avons également débuté les enregistrements des chiens à l’étude, à raison de deux heures par jour pour chaque chien et ce durant trois jours. Ils sont nombreux les enfants (et parfois les adultes!) à se demander pourquoi nous sommes debout dans la rue, une caméra à la main, occupés à suivre un chien dans ses activités quotidiennes…

Malgré le froid et le vent, je trouve que cet effort de suivre un chien sur l’étendue de son territoire durant soixante minutes consécutives est des plus intéressants. En effet, en moins de trois jours d’enregistrements, nous voilà déjà familiers avec ses habitudes : qui sont ses amis canins? quelle est sa cachette préférée? quel type de nourriture préfère-t-il? à quel endroit se poste-t-il en attendant le retour de ses maîtres? C’est toute une leçon d’humilité que de découvrir la vie de ces chiens; leurs intérêts, leurs difficultés, leurs maladies et surtout leurs relations avec les humains.

The journey begins…

Greetings from Africa! Jen and I have safely arrived in Nairobi after a very long and exhausting day of travel. After 28 plus hours in transit our last flight got us here at 4 o’clock in the morning, and despite the exhaustion, we both expressed delight at finally reaching our destination. The delight was further compounded by the delivery of all of our luggage (thank goodness!!!!).

After a quick nap and a delicious lunch (pineapple has never tasted so good…) we took a quick stroll around Nairobi center. We were approached numerous times by a number of individuals curious about where we were from and whether we were enjoying Africa thus far. I must say everyone is very friendly and at least in the city language is not a barrier as English is widely spoken.

It looks like we will be spending another day or so in Nairobi and then heading into Ichamara on Tuesday. We are both looking forward to settling in and starting our project. I feel so privileged to be a part of this project and I am so grateful to everyone who provided support to make this trip possible. To all friends and family, I wish you a great summer and look forward to seeing you upon my return!

Cheers,

Morgan

Andi in the Andes

After 4 airplanes and a 3 hour bus ride, about 2 days of traveling, we finally made it to Puerto Natales very late last night. The hostel we are staying at is very cozy and is the home to 2 orange tabby cats, Bonnie and Clyde.

We woke up the next morning in PN to a beautiful town that seemed to be hidden from us the night before by darkness and jet lag. The town is quiet but feels full of life. It was very apparent when looking outside that there is a dog overpopulation problem. Within the first 15 minutes, there were more than 10 free roaming dogs to pass the hostel and of the males, none of which seemed neutered, while females looked heavily pregnant. Our work will certainly make a difference in the community. We have the morning off to organize ourselves and this afternoon we will explore the town we will be calling home for the next few months. We went out for a great first lunch in PN. The food was amazing, but for Graham and I, it was a challenge in even attempting to order a meal. I’m sure we ended up butchering Spanish for lunch. Rebecca and Corinne have turned into human dictionaries, but I hope my background in French will allow me to learn Spanish quickly. Elena and Guillermo, our project leaders, have set up a press conference in the next few days to remind the community about our work. Our parkas donated to our project by Helly Hansen Canada will come in handy. Apart from their use to keep us away from the strong winds and humid cold, they now seem to be what will distinguish us as workers in the community.

Tomorrow, we will be starting the project with the free roaming dogs, learning how to safely work with dogs that are not used to being handled. We are also learning how to take precautions against a zoonotic disease in the area, cystic hydatid disease, which is prevalent in more than half of the dogs we are working with. We are all so excited to start the project we have been preparing for since January.

Andi

First Day at the KAT center and the tour I didn’t know I was on

It turns out I have by no way mastered the Nepalese language/accent. The Kathmandu Animal Treatment (KAT) center is located on the road to Budanilkantha. It also turns out there is a town in the exact opposite direction of the Center which sounds a lot like “Budanilkantha.” Needless to say we were slightly late for our first day.

Upon arrival at the center we were greeted by the warm, smiling faces of the employees and volunteers and numerous wagging tails of the KAT center’s residents. The KAT center is an extraordinary place. The main focus of course is animal birth control – - the success of which I have already witnessed in the numerous ear notched dogs walking the streets. Dogs spayed at the center are given an identification tattoo, ear notch and red collar. The people of Kathmandu recognize that these dos have been vaccinated and spayed and are far more willing to care for them. When I first heard the center spayed and vaccinated strays and often released them back onto the streets, I was skeptical. With the success rate of adoptions and lack of stray dogs we experience in the Western world, it is hard to understand how people who clearly care about the well being of these animals can release them onto the street. But Nepal is not Canada. For starters, the center always releases the dogs back to the same neighbourhood from which they came. Often these dogs know where to get food and shelter in their home area. Some of them even have “owners.” Furthermore, in a given year the KAT center is lucky to adopt out 50 dogs. The city has over 20 000 stray dogs. In order to effectively reduce to stray dog population in Kathmandu it would be ridiculous to only spay the number of dogs they could find homes for.

The KAT center does have a decently equipped “surgery suite” but medically, the center is a long way away from a Western veterinary clinic (obviously). It is not the desire to perform top level medical aid that is lacking, quite the opposite, it is simply the diagnostic tools and supplies that are much needed. I think the medical supplies we brought with us will go to good use, as we have already torn open boxes of gloves and used some of the towels and drugs. Currently, the KAT center is well staffed with volunteers and veterinarians as it is tourist season. It is very neat to see how even routine procedures like placing a cast are done rather differently by vets from different parts of the world. After a dog chewed off its cast today a different vet tried her “American way,” to see if it would hold.

The level of Mange (skin disorders caused by parasitic mites) is Kathmandu is quite extraordinary. I witnessed more cases today of advanced mange then in the rest of my volunteer work and work work combined. It can be treated very successfully, however, and I am looking forward to seeing the transformation of some of these animals over the next three months.

Upon our return from the KAT center I decided to explore the streets some more. And by explore the streets I really mean play human frogger through traffic and say “No thankyou” a few thousand times to pushy, yet friendly store owners. Just as I took a quick turn down a backstreet in an attempt to dodge a flying 3-wheeled “tuck-tuck” (by flying I mean speeding, this land is magical yes, but not in that way), a well dressed, English-fluent man approached me, made an off hand comment about the crazy traffic and proceeded to walk the street with me talking about school life and asking me about my home country. Suddenly, we were in front of temples and old buildings and he was giving me history lessons about everything in site. Then, before I could say “Budanilkantha” I was on a rooftop and he was pointing at shopping squares and more temples. I was on a tour. I had not scheduled one. I had not asked for one. I had not even realized I was on one until it was half way over. In the end he wanted a lot of money, a few thousand rupees, and I gave him 500 rupees – - the equivalent of about 6 dollars. I had been swindled, somewhat, but I did get a pretty nice tour of Kathmandu for a reasonable price.

Cheers for now,

Colin

P.S. pictures will come – sometime

Educators from around the world help develop training in Ecohealth

At Vets without Borders, we think everything is part of an ecosystem.  A city pet is part of an ecosystem which includes other animals, its owners, its vet, neighbours, and the urban environment.  The bacteria Salmonella is part of an ecosystem that includes the food people eat, the animals they produce, and the economic system that regulates trade in food.

In many developing countries, populations are growing, rural areas are becoming industrialized and poor people need alternative livelihoods to support their families.  As environments change, factors which influence people and animals’ health change too, and understanding people and their animals in the context of their ecosystems is ever more important.

It is for this reason that Vets without Borders is part of a ground-breaking new initiative to build the field of Ecosystem approaches to health (or Ecohealth) in Southeast Asia.  Veterinarians have a unique insight into the relationship between human, animal and environmental health and we are on a journey with our partners, members and supporters to help build a better world using these skills and understanding.

On 29-31 March, Vets without Borders convened the first major event of the Field Building Leadership Initiative for Ecohealth in Southeast Asia. With more than 20 people from Thailand, Indonesia, China, Vietnam, Canada, Mexico and others, it set the path for a new form of training and education in Southeast Asian countries. This new training will focus on building collaboration between researchers and communities, understanding how equity and sustainability are core business for universities, and exploring the complex links between disease, agriculture, health and urbanization.

The cornerstone of the new training approach is an Ecohealth Trainer manual, written collaboratively by more than ten international authors, which will provide a template for teachers and students in developing courses in Ecohealth. Funded primarily by the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the initiative is being spearheaded by regional champions who will build research and teaching of Ecohealth at their institutions.  At the March event, attendees said that everyone showed “commitment and participation” and “real progress was made with the manual thanks to so much quality collective work”.  We are lucky to be working with such motivated and visionary leaders around the world.

Touched Down In Kathmandu!

After two and a half days travel we have officially arrived in Kathmandu! I enter this first post huddled over in a darkened internet cafe, just off the busy streets of Thamel, Kathmandu Nepal. Despite a brief hold up in the Indian airport, travel went well, and finally we have reached our destination. It is a bit of a culture shock stepping out of the airport into the dusty streets of Kathmandu with taxi drivers yelling and forcefully “asking” for your business.

The majority of the population is in poverty here, and cows and dogs are more common lane dividers than medians. That being said, it is an incredible place, with almost a peaceful aura despite the craziness, and everyone is extremely friendly. I cannot wait to begin work at the KAT centre. Pictures will follow once I can get internet on my own computer and am not using a rental at an internet cafe.

Cheers for now,

Colin

Quelques pensées avant de partir pour l’Ouganda

J’ai hâte de pouvoir être utile et d’approfondir ma connaissance sur le rôle du vétérinaire dans une société. Je continue d’apprendre la profession avec intérêt, toutefois je ne connais toujours pas exactement mon but, mon rôle comme vétérinaire et son importance. Mon instinct me dit que de découvrir une culture assez éloignée de la mienne m’aiderait sans doute à cadrer les principales valeurs qui dirigeraient  par la suite mes futures décisions de vétérinaire. J’envisage avec enthousiasme de découvrir une nouvelle culture. Les cultures distinctes ont des points de vue différents sur la réalité que je tente de définir. Il est intéressant de se promener de point de vue en point de vue pour avoir l’image la plus représentative de la réalité et de pouvoir par la suite agir en étant plus harmonieux avec celle-ci.

Je participerai donc à un projet vétérinaire qui impliquera des chèvres laitières en production extensive dans une communauté constituée majoritairement de veuves et d’orphelins. Je serai heureux de partager mon expérience avec vous en faisant part de mes surprises et de mes déceptions par rapport aux attentes que j’ai vaguement mentionnées et qui peuvent se diviser en 2 parties soit le côté humanitaire et le côté vétérinaire plus pratique.