Helping working animals in Cameroon

In Cameroon, working animals help many people living in rural low-income communities to earn a small income. They plough fields, transport vital resources such as water and firewood, and help people travel longer distances to reach schools and hospitals. 

We’re working in Cameroon to provide sick and injured working animals with lifesaving veterinary care, to provide training to communities and professionals who work to improve animal welfare, and to help schoolchildren learn about the importance of animal welfare.

Cameroon at a glance

  • Population: 27.2 million 
  • Area: 475,442 square km 
  • Location: Central Africa 
  • Capital city: Yaoundé 
  • Estimated number of working animals: 57,228 
  • Number of SPANA mobile veterinary clinics: One
  • Number of working animals treated in 2022: 2,000
  • Number of animal owners trained in 2022: 786
  • Number of veterinary professionals trained in 2022: 20 
  • Number of children receiving humane education in 2022: 184 

Our work in Cameroon

In 2022, a SPANA project operated a mobile clinic in Cameroon for the first time, giving thousands of working animals in remote and rural locations access to professional veterinary treatment.

Our team also provides training to animal owners, so that they have the knowledge and skills to look after their animals. We also share our 100 years of expertise in working animal welfare by training vets in Cameroon.

Meanwhile, our animal welfare education lessons are teaching children in Cameroon that working animals need food, water and shelter, as well as care and attention if they become sick or injured. Through animal clubs, school visits, posters, workbooks and education packs, we’re fostering improved care of towards animals.

Acheba’s story

Acheba, who is 13 years old, has been a member of the SPANA education programme for two years and is now leader of one of his school’s animal care clubs. He has learnt that animals are sentient beings with specific welfare needs. Acheba is also a naturally creative and artistic student, drawing several educative posters for his classroom and writing an animal welfare presentation for a local radio programme to raise awareness about the importance of caring properly for animals. He is an inspiration to his teachers and peers alike.

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