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KAMPALA - In celebration of the upcoming World Veterinary Day in Uganda on April 27, Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries (MAAIF) and Uniquely Paws, an international organisation in animal welfare, is organising eight free vaccinations against rabies and surgery clinics.

Meg Hilbert Jaquay, the co-Founder of Uniquely Paws Ltd says this year’s event will take centre stage in Rakai and Kampala districts from April 24 to April 28, 2024.

Uniquely Paws Limited has spearheaded a coalition of local organisations, Uganda Small Animal Practitioners Association (USAPA) and VetConekt, Makerere along with MAAIF and KCCA leaders and others to organize this campaign.

Jaquay revealed that all those entities have a shared vision of eliminating rabies from Uganda by 2030 under the National Rabies Eradication Strategy.

Furthermore, the organisations are working on controlling the overpopulation of roaming dogs through free, small animal surgery clinics to prevent mass euthanasia of community dogs and cats.

Besides the surgeries and vaccinations, Jaquay revealed there will be general welfare checks, including de-worming and tick removal from the animals.

Additionally, female spay or male Neuter (Castration) shall also be carried out on all adult dogs and cats.

In order to know that your animal is safe to be around, Jaquay intimated that those dogs vaccinated will be offered collars so they are differentiated in society.

On those days, children, too, will not be left out. Jaquay reports that they will offer free pet care colouring books. “This will help them to learn proper pet care, and have fun learning how to do it,” she stated.

Dr. Kassim Njalir from VetConekt and Lead Vet at USPCA revealed that it is vital for people to participate in such events because it helps them to spread the message of one health-holistic approach to animal, human, and environmental welfare for the sake of the communities.

Aside from that, such events create employment for women. Dr. Herbert Kasiita, the acting KCCA district veterinary officer observed that when it comes to providing the Yellow Collar Initiative to manage the rabies registration efforts of every dog in Uganda, it is women who make those collars thus earning a living for their families.

Moreover, the event offers a chance for veterinary students to have hands-on skills in the field. “By being a part of these Uniquely Paws sponsored events, our students get hands-on experience working with more than 200 dogs and cats in one day”, says Dr. Tayebwa Dickson, Lecturer College of Veterinary Medicine, Makerere University.

It is vital that concerned parties attend such events since healthy animals also provide their human handlers with safe, secure homes, happier homes, and healthier homes.