Whereas Rakai district will play host to the main celebrations tomorrow Saturday 24th April 2010, the Veterinary fraternity descended upon their cradle: The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine on 22nd April 2010, to give back to the community that nurtured them.

Whereas Rakai district will play host to the main celebrations tomorrow Saturday 24th April 2010, the Veterinary fraternity descended upon their cradle: The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine on 22nd April 2010, to give back to the community that nurtured them.

This lecture was part of the Vet Week activities that culminated into the World Veterinary Day on 24th April 2010. This public lecture was hosted at The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine in recognition of the partnership between the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries, the Uganda Veterinary Association and the private sector. This partnership is aimed at finding solutions to the challenges facing Uganda's Animal Industry through research-driven community development collaborative initiatives.

Keeping in line with the theme of the week “One World, One Health: more cooperation between veterinarians and physicians” panelist after panelist took time off to make their presentation on topical issues.

 Dr. Waiswa kicked off the proceedings with interventions made by the Stamp out Sleeping Sickness (SOS) campaign: A public private partnership launched in Kampala in October 2006. This partnership was formed in response to an emergency situation arising in a number of districts in Northern Uganda where the two strains of Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) – also known as “sleeping sickness”- threaten to converge. This could have a catastrophic effect for the already stretched local health services. He cited erratic cattle movement irregular spraying of animals in these areas as proponents to the spread of this disease.

Offering the Wildlife perspective, Dr. Andrew Seguya, Executive Director Uganda Wildlife Education Center (UWEC) made his presentation on how veterinary and medical intervention for a man trapped chimpanzee in Rwensama Forest helped restore its life. Hounded by the diminishing forest cover, the chimpanzees are forced to raid crops in the community gardens, which unfortunately often lead them to be caught, maimed or even killed by the mantraps. Dr. Seguya however shared a success story of how one chimp Amaanyi, whose limb had been caught in mantrap was evacuated to UWEC for an amputation and ensuing rehabilitation. He paid special tribute to partners like the Jane Goodall Institute Uganda for their active support towards chimp conservation.

“Why do you think God would liken himself to an eagle? Or a lion? It means he loves them! So don’t you think God is a Veterinarian?” questioned Dr. Kansiime Michael as enticed and engaged the audience. Dr. Kansiime a lecturer at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and General Secretary of the Uganda Christian Veterinary Mission chose a spiritual approach as he presented his topic “Animals and Humans. One World, one Health. The Bible View.” Obviously distressed by scenes of cruelty meted out animals in the previous presentation “Those people depicted laying traps and killing animals are sinners and will never enter the kindom of heaven” he charged on. He concluded his presentation by challenging all present to consider animals as they strove for better living conditions “ As Physicians and Veterinarians, we are custodians of health for humans and animals, lets work together for the better of both species because no amount of strength will outdo the plan of God and separate the two.”

Dr. Jeanne Muhindo from the National Pharmacovigilance Center of the National Drug Authority revealed the realization by the Authority to setup a center to monitor safety and quality of medicines on the market. Hence Veterinary pharmacovigilance is the management of the detection and investigation of the clinical effects of the veterinary medicinal products, mainly aimed at the safety and efficacy in animals, the safety in people and the environment exposed to these products. Dr. Muhindo went on to shock the audience when she stated “People are using animal drugs to treat human illnesses like syphilis!” She therefore stressed the need for analysis and dissemination of the information needed to improve the prescription, dispensing, provision and regulation of drugs to help avert Adverse Drug Reactions (ADR) as a result of misuse and abuse of drugs.

A Senior Medical Officer in-charge of HAT in the Ministry of Health, Dr Charles Wamboga wound up the lecture by giving his talk on collaboration between the Ministry, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and SOS. Citing the 60million people in sub-saharan Africa who are at risk of acquiring HAT, he justified the need for this collaboration especially in Uganda, which is the only country where both acute and chronic strains of the disease exist. Dr. Wamboga paid special tribute to the Management and Students of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, who helped to bring down the epidemic in 2006; and the University of Edinburgh (UK) for the collaborative training offered. 

Dr. Andrew  Seguya's presentation here

Dr. Kansiime Michael's presentation here

Dr. Jeanne Muhindo's presentation here