Community outreach in Sheikh Community aimed at increasing local community animal production

Community outreach in Sheikh Community aimed at increasing local community animal production

Posted on 2nd Oct 2017 by DR ABDULLAHI SHEIKH

The ISTVS Veterinary clinic is one of ISTVS’ facilities that have been beneficial to the local community that is Sheikh. The animal owners from this town get a chance to bring their animals to the ISTVS veterinary clinic for veterinary services and interventions. Veterinary students under the supervision of the teachers get to treat these animals accordingly and hence get a chance to put theory into practice.

One recent recurring problem attended to by our veterinary students is witnessed in town reared female small ruminants which suffer from painful parturition (dystocia), a problem gradually increasing year after year.

ISTVS veterinary professionals and students promptly address the problem and solve most of the problems including dystopia by caesarean section (surgery) to bring the animals in a safe, healthy condition to reproduce.

In the last eight months, our Year three veterinary class lead by their Lecturers Dr. Abdurahman Barre Dubad, Dr. Saed Jama Ibrahim and Dr. Abdigani Ahmed Farah successfully performed eight Caesarean operations.

In addition to this, from 15th to 25th September 2017, the class has completed without any supervision two caesarean sections on a doe and a ewe.

Here are some pictures of the operations:

 

Figure 1: Abdomen opening at left flank

Figure 2 and 3: Opening of uterus and pulling foetus of the uterus

Figure 4: Suturing uterus and abdomen

 

Figure 5: End result: Animals after successful caesarean surgery

Findings: This recurrent problem is due to nutritional and environmental deterioration (decreased grass, feed, and an increase of plastic bags). Small ruminant females, because of low energy are probably unable to deliver the foetus on time, thus due to prolonged labour, most of the foetuses die in the womb. Out of eight foetuses, one has been seen malformed (bent at lumbar vertebrae).

• Advice given to animal owners: Give enough feed to the reproducing females especially during the last two-three months of pregnancy. Cull the one with abnormal foetus after fattening.
• Follow up: Four of previous six operated small ruminants reproduced after proper care by the owners reproducing live kids and lambs.
• Clinic Services: ISTVS service is free, but a light levy is charged to recover the cost of drugs to sustain the outreach programme.

The above Caesarean Procedure was carried out by our Year three veterinary class (female dominated).

 Figure 6: Abnormal foetus

 

Thanks to Ann Wangeci for her input.