Ripple Effect Holds Academic Tour To Enhance Donkey Management Skills Among Animal Practitioners

By Isabella Maua

Animal health practitioners and veterinarians have been challenged to provide quality services to farmers as a measure to fight emerging quacks in the sector.

This was emphasized by Dr. Vincent Oloo of Brooke East Africa in his speech to Bukura Agricultural College students during their academic tour at Kapkateny Market on Friday, where the students were being given hands-on experience with equines, specifically donkeys.

“It is not easy to completely wipe off quacks in this industry, but we can win against them by working and relating professionally with animals and farmers in the process of ensuring quality service provision,” mentioned Dr. Oloo.

Students and lecturers from Bukura could not hide their excitement as they interacted with the donkeys who assembled at the market place for the day’s treat.

“We are so glad to have brought our students here for such an exposure; not only have they learned how to handle and treat donkeys, but they have also gotten quality applied skills away from the theory we teach them at school,” noted Doris Mwai, a trainer on Animal Health Production at Bukura.

Her sentiments were echoed by her colleague Charles Koros, who saluted Brooke East Africa and Ripple Effect for their noble act of bringing to reality the dream of many professionals who had never come across donkeys in their entire careers.

“Many of our students and even fellow trainers had never dealt with equines before, but thanks to today’s tour, we can perfectly be distinguished from quacks since we have sufficient knowledge and skills in handling and treating them,” reiterated Koros.

According to Michael Otando, a student in his final semester, the tour was very viable, and stakeholders played a big role in giving them quality skills in the management of donkeys, case study examination of different sites of the animal depending on the needs and clinical aspects, as well as restraining methods.

Fadhili Buyanzi said, “It is my first time to be in Mt. Elgon and also handle donkeys, and today I have been taught their different parts of the hooves, including the sole and wall, how to trim their hooves, and how to handle them comfortably and protectively.”

The trainers, students, and veterinarians also requested more of such sessions, citing inadequate knowledge and know-how of donkeys, especially because they are not available at training institutions.

“We shall work with other stakeholders to ensure we have more sessions like this one because our interaction with the students has revealed inadequate syllabus coverage on animal welfare and how it affects socio-economic activities of owners and users,” revealed Dr Simiyu Wechabe, Tongaren Sub County Veterinary Officer working with Ripple Effect.