In Ségou, Mali, we can only currently reach a fraction of those needing help. Our dedicated vets travel 150 miles from Bamako, the capital, each month to treat these poor animals. After visiting Ségou they wind their way across the dusty terrain to treat working animals in remote villages. Despite this, sadly, thousands of Ségou’s working animals never receive veterinary treatment when they are suffering.
But together, we can change this.
With your support, we can build a permanent veterinary centre in Ségou, which will transform and save the lives of approximately 60,000 animals per year in Mali. If they are very sick, working animals can recover in one of the stables we’re planning to build at the centre.
Please help create a better future for working animals in Ségou, Mali. Will you donate today so we can build a new permanent veterinary centre?
Amou the donkey transports goods for her community in the village of Cherno, Mali. One day, when she was pulling her heavy cart along the bumpy roads, her owner, Brema, noticed Amou was struggling to put weight on her leg. As she limped on, pulling the cart was becoming unbearable for her.
A few weeks earlier, Brema had noticed a small lump on Amou’s leg. The lump grew quickly, causing the skin around it to swell and bleed. Brema was concerned because he knew what the lump was likely to be.
A year earlier, Brema spotted another large lump on Amou’s body that made moving very difficult. The lump was a fast-growing skin tumour, called a sarcoid, which our mobile clinic vets had successfully removed – but Brema feared had returned. This time the position of the new lump made walking agonising.
Our mobile clinic vets had successfully removed the last sarcoid from the poor donkey. Now Brema had to wait for the vets to return as this was the only chance to get Amou help.
Fortunately Amou didn’t have to wait too long for the next mobile clinic. When she staggered up, our vets immediately examined the tumour.
They knew Amou needed surgery, but didn’t have anywhere to carry out the operation, so they took Amou to a makeshift theatre at a nearby secondary school. There, thankfully, the vets successfully removed the sarcoid after challenging surgery.
They showed Brema how to change Amou’s bandages and keep the area clean to prevent infection. This was crucial, as without a nearby centre to provide ongoing care for Amou, her recovery was in the hands of her owner.
Thankfully, after Brema followed the careful advice of our vets, the area began to heal. After a few weeks, Amou started to return to her old self.
Amou was lucky. Sadly, there are thousands more working animals like her in Ségou who need urgent and attentive veterinary treatment right now. Most will not see a vet when they are suffering.
But a new veterinary centre will change their lives. A gift from you today could not only help build the new centre, but also provide treatment that will transform the lives of thousands of working animals for many years to come.
Please be assured that even if we don’t reach our appeal target of £164,000, then any funds raised will still be used to help us treat, care and protect working animals in Ségou, Mali. If the generosity of supporters means we exceed our target, then any additional funds will go wherever the need is greatest.