World Veterinary Day celebrated with free pet vaccination

In celebration of World Veterinary Day, Vetconekt Initiative Ltd, in partnership with Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) and Uniquely Paws Ltd, with the help of the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Industry, organised a series of free pet care community clinics.

Starting the day with Kamwokya, a Kampala suburb, Meg Hilbert Jaquay of Uniquely Paws Ltd revealed that there are several areas they're yet to cover.  

These include Kawempe, Makerere Kikoni, Massajja, and Namungoona. According to Jaquay, no animal should be left unvaccinated, and because of the inadequate time, the services will run from April 26 to May 5.

However, Dr. Tayebwa Dickson of Vetconekt revealed that the main event took place in Kiboga district.   

According to Dr. Tayebwa, the theme of the day was “Animal Health Takes a Team.”
Dr. Tayebwa says the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry under KCCA provided the vaccination, while other fields like neutering, spaying and animal welfare education were sponsored by other organisations like Uniquely Paws Ltd.

“We are happy for the services because we have many dogs in the community. Previously, we could write to KCCA and they would come and terminate them,” Joseph Jukko, the publicity secretary, mobilisation and education officer in Kamwokya, said. “But now that is no longer the case, it is forbidden.”

 Jjuko says Vetconekt has informed them that instead of being poisoned, there is a shelter (Uganda Society for the Protection & Care of Animals (USPCA), which can take care of such animals.

 Moreover, Jjuko is happy that the vaccination of the animals and offering family planning will decrease their population in society and also make them safe to live with.

In the community, Jjuko says they have already faced the brunt of unvaccinated dogs when last year a woman was bitten by a stray dog in Kamwokya market.  

Unfortunately, she did not make it but died while barking like a dog. Two weeks ago, Jjuko reported that at 1:00am, a woman frying chips was beaten by a stray dog with her baby. They are still in the hospital.

Dr. Tayebwa reveals that once any dog, which is not vaccinated, bites someone, they can contract rabies, which is incurable. 

“It is, therefore, very imperative that no community or family should live with an animal which is not vaccinated,” Dr. Tayebwa revealed.