World Horse Welfare and Semonkong Hospital Trust
Date: 22nd – 27th September 2024
Duration: 1 Week
Location: Lesotho, Southern Africa
BEVA Trust is looking for two vets to travel to Lesotho to support the annual Semonkong Community vet clinic organised by World Horse Welfare and the Semonkong Hospital Trust.
The Semonkong Hospital Trust is committed to creating sustainable social and economic change through unique bottom-up development planning, poverty alleviation, education and contribution to improved standards of living for marginalised people. In addition to various health, education, and agricultural interventions, the Trust hosts an annual week-long veterinary outreach, during which veterinarians and veterinary students come to Semonkong:
- To provide primary health care to 20,000 animals including more than 2,000 equids
- To educate farmers in better health care and husbandry
- To work with community leaders and Agricultural Committee members to create a network of support to help address and improve animal health and welfare in the community
- To provide final year veterinary students from Onderstepoort Vet School with practical experience treating animals.
World Horse Welfare recently commenced a formal project with the Trust in Semonkong.
One of the initiatives implemented by the project is the training of a cohort of Community Based Livestock Advisors (CBLAs). It would be very helpful for the CBLAs to benefit from the training provided by the BEVA Trust vets in terms of primary health care, wound care and equine assessments. It is envisaged that the CBLAs will be attached to the equine vet team and will work closely with the vet students and veterinarians during the outreach.
Volunteers will be expected to provide training to World Horse Welfare staff, Semonkong Hospital Project staff on equine primary health care, including wound treatment and after care. Volunteers will also help to supervise veterinary students from Onderstepoort Vet School during the clinics in the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses and injuries observed in the field (this may include minor surgical procedures, geldings, wound treatment and other equine health issues).
Volunteers need to have experience undertaking equine surgical procedures including geldings, eye removal, severe wound treatment, as well as sedation, and wound after care. Experience undertaking surgical procedures in basic rural conditions (outside with limited facilities or surgical equipment) is also required. Experience of training & overseeing work of final year veterinary students is essential. Previous experience working in Africa would be an advantage (but not essential).
Accommodation, meals in country travel and flights and will be provided and organised by WHW/BEVA Trust.
For further information, see travel advice and entry requirements for Lesotho
For more information about volunteering with the BEVA Trust take a look at the volunteering FAQ’s
Contact us for further information or to register your interest in this opportunity email leaya@beva.org.uk
with your CV and cover note. Applications close Friday 5th July 2024