Vets Wendy Furness and Michael Colgan operating in one of the temporary clinics
Volunteer Vets Bring First-ever Veterinary Outreach To One Of Botswana’s Most Remote Regions
2 weeks ago 
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More than 750 animals helped during pioneering outreach clinics in the eastern Okavango Delta
More than 750 animals received veterinary care after volunteer veterinary surgeons from the UK helped deliver the first organised veterinary outreach programme to six isolated villages in Botswana’s eastern Okavango Delta.
Vets Wendy Furness and Michael Colgan joined veterinary charity Maun Animal Welfare Society (MAWS) for one of its most ambitious outreach initiatives to date, setting up temporary veterinary clinics in the remote Seronga region - an area in the panhandle of the Okavango Delta where access to routine veterinary care is extremely limited despite its celebrated rich wildlife.
Working alongside local village leaders and community partners, the team travelled more than six hours over rough roads before completing the journey by boat to reach communities that had previously had little or no access to veterinary services. As well as assembling the clinic every day ahead of the heat of the day, much of the work took place in the heart of major wildlife corridors so the team had to be aware of potential wild animals in the area including elephant, lions, wild dogs and snakes.
Over the course of a week the team treated 755 animals, comprising 561 dogs, 18 cats, 82 donkeys and 94 horses. Services included dog and cat neutering, rabies vaccination, parasite control and treatment of medical conditions, alongside essential preventative healthcare and welfare advice for owners. Dedicated equine clinics also provided basic healthcare and advice around working horses and donkeys that play a vital role in local livelihoods.
The overwhelming demand exceeded all expectations, underlining both the unmet need for veterinary services and the importance communities place on improving animal health.
Alongside Wendy and Michael, the veterinary team included MAWS veterinary support team, Carmen and Vasco, as well as volunteer Ansie and Thomas, a local farrier. Based in Maun, at the gateway to the Okavango Delta, MAWS works to improve domestic animal welfare as an integral part of protecting both human and wildlife health across Botswana.
Dr Wendy Furness said: ‘This was the third time we have volunteered with MAWS, and it was by far the most logistically challenging project we have undertaken. Once we reached the villages there was no possibility of returning for forgotten equipment, so every aspect of the clinics had to be meticulously planned by Carmen and Vasco.
‘In addition, the local team from conservation charity Communities Living Among Wildlife Sustainably (CLAWS) had put in a lot of work in advance on the ground to ensure we could work alongside them, and that the people from the villages we were visiting were able to make the most of what we had to offer. Cases were rich and varied – from straightforward rabies vaccinations to more unusual cases such as a horse that had been attacked by a crocodile, severe eye injuries and a kitten that had been attacked by a monitor lizard. Many of the routine operations are more complicated than normal as tick borne disease increases the risks of bleeding. All part of a day’s work in such a remote location without access to regular vet care, often with an impromptu audience.’
Wendy continued: ‘This work also throws up wider important issues as nearly 60,000 people die from rabies worldwide which is not something that is even on the radar for us in the UK anymore. But improving the health of domestic animals in places like the villages around Seronga delivers benefits that extend far beyond individual patients. Healthy dogs, cats and horses and donkeys support household livelihoods, improve animal welfare and reduce the risk of rabies affecting both people and wildlife and diseases such as distemper spilling over into wildlife. The work done by the team at MAWS is inspirational.’
Dawn Torre, Chair of MAWS said: ‘We are so grateful for the support and expertise of people like Wendy and Michael who become part of our team for a short space of time and really help make a difference to our communities.
‘We are also delighted the outreach programme has enabled us to assess community demand for future preventative veterinary care, particularly rabies vaccination and sterilisation. The exceptional attendance demonstrated strong local demand, while also highlighting the limited availability of rabies vaccines and post-exposure treatment for people in these remote communities - an important public and veterinary health challenge.’
The project was supported by Ark Impact and VetThing, which sponsored Wendy and Michael’s volunteer work and consumables for the mission. MAWS also received invaluable logistical and financial support from CLAWS (Communities Living Among Wildlife Sustainably), while Animal Aid Abroad funded the dedicated equine clinics with Jumbo Junction and Swamp Stop providing much needed food and beds.
Find out more about MAWS, their work and how to support them at www.maunanimalwelfare.com. Vets and Nurses can also volunteer through Worldwide Veterinary Service www.wvs.org.uk
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