Veterinary services now delivered at your door

BARBERTON – Doctor Moshe Mathonsi, state veterinarian for the Department of Agricultural, Rural Development and Land Administration has called pet lovers and farmers to take full advantage of the service being brought to their doorstep.
Mathonsi was speaking at the launch of three ambulatory veterinary clinics, which was held at Cathyville Hall on Monday.
The three branded mobile clinics were purchased in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, with the aim of intensifying the provision of primary animal health-care services at the far-flung rural areas of the municipality.

“The providing of these is about improving accessibility and affordability of veterinarian services especially to the previously disadvantaged communities. We also aim at improving animal productivity, food security, food safety and pet ownership thus improving the livelihood of people,” said Mathonsi.

These ambulatory vehicles, which are the first of its kind, are equipped with basic animal health-care facilities that will be used to conduct extension service, and this include built-in flat screen TVs that will be used for demonstrations during school campaigns and farmers’ information days, public-address systems that will assist in delivering crucial messages to farmers, and refrigerators to store the vaccines.
These vehicles will be used by veterinarians and para-veterinary officials (animal health technicians, veterinary nurses, veterinary technologists and meat inspectors) to address PAHC throughout the country, (especially in the rural communities).

The vehicles will also be used for veterinary extension – this involves animal disease control campaigns at schools, vaccinations, pet sterilisations campaigns, and to serve farmer communities and the public at large- for example – World Rabies Day.
Expressing their excitement about this programme, farmers said they are happy that the welfare of the animals will be constantly and reliably taken care of, saying they commend and support the department on this initiative.

Meanwhile, it rendered primary animal health-care services and extensions in various areas around Umjindi last week.
They conducted sterilisation and rabies vaccinations of dogs and cats on Tuesday. On Wednesday, they castrated bulls and pigs.
“This is an annual provincial initiative aimed at elevating and controlling the spread of animals’ diseases within the community while educating the public about basic animal care and welfare,” said Irene Serage.