World Veterinary Day : Animal Health Clinic in rural Ujjwaalnagar

So...

... yesterday was World Veterinary Day. I never knew there was such a thing ... but it is recognised and celebrated by the vet students in Nepal.

They asked me to attend a 'camp' they were providing farmers in the small village of Ujjwaalnagar, about an hour from the vet school.

This was arranged by the Nepali branch of the International Veterinary Students Association (IVSA). I once organised a sport and social weekend for the UK vet schools when I was a member of IVSA in Edinburgh ... so I decided to support the students here, along with a couple of their teachers ... in spite of the 40oC temperature!

It was called a 'camp' but was actually a one-day open-clinic where farmers brought their animals for examination and treatment. Several pharmaceutical companies donated items that the students brought with them for treatment and dispensing.

Nearby, there was a local dairy that acted as a collection point for the farmers to bring their milk. This was quite well organised. I haven't seen one before in Nepal. There is a bigger population of people where I live so most of the farmers sell their milk directly to local customers.

The milk was brought to the dairy and weighed ...

... then samples were taken for analysis ...

... before the milk was decanted into refrigerated tanks to await collection by a milk truck. This would take the milk to a processing plant.

The farmers, both male and female, assembled with their animals in a dry paddock, and awaited their turn. It was a very colourful scene.

There were goats, water buffalo and cows. I spent most of the time examining buffalo and cattle under a square of shade cloth ... (spot Annina, the Swiss veterinary student who was visiting for a couple of weeks) ...

... while the next patient grazed peacefully nearby.

Did you notice the low roofed sheds in the background of some photos? Nepal is nearly self sufficient in egg and poultry meat production ... so there are many small poultry sheds scattered throughout the country.

Fortunately, the other vets deal with many of the poultry cases ... since I have forgotten most of what I learned before graduating!

Namaste !