Ethiopia is a country with over 2.5 million horses. There are struggles with both poverty and severe climatic events.
SPANA has one very busy veterinary clinic in Bishoftu and two mobile clinics, treating over 11,000 animals in Ethiopia each year. We also have three classrooms and an education centre. Teachers reach over 7,500 children annually with lessons on animal welfare.
SPANA started work in Ethiopia in 2002. Our small and dedicated team there was able to provide over 8,498 veterinary treatments to working animals in 2018.
SPANA Ethiopia’s education project is one of our largest, featuring an extensive and growing network of after-school animal clubs, along with a programme of school visits to our centre, just outside Addis Ababa.
SPANA operates a clinical skills centre (CSC) in Ethiopia. CSCs are centres created within a university to improve technical and practical skills of veterinary students. They are equipped with different skills stations where students can practice veterinary skills such as injection technique, suturing, and bandaging in a safe environment. In 2018 we trained 5,485 people – this includes both formal training and giving owners informal advice – as well as 632 professionals.
How long have you been working for SPANA?
I have been working for SPANA in Ethiopia as a Country Director since January 2018.
What does your role involve?
I’m in charge of the overall planning for the operations of SPANA in Ethiopia. This includes recruiting staff for SPANA projects, leading the implementation of our projects and reviewing end evaluating the success of our projects.
How important are working animals in Ethiopia?
Working animals are major contributors to the lives of Ethiopian people. This is particularly true for the country’s rural communities. They are pathways out of poverty for the poor as they create opportunities for their livelihood. They are a means of income as they transport agricultural produce to the market. Income produced and gained through working animals’ services are used for communities to subsidise their household expenses, to be able send their children to school.
Working animals (mostly donkeys and horses) also transport water and fire wood, relieving children and women who would traditionally carry these heavy loads. These animals also transport local people from place to place.
What are the challenges facing working animals in Ethiopia?
The biggest challenge facing working animals in Ethiopia is the inhumane treatment by people due to lack of awareness. They are not well feed, sheltered or given medical treatments, but are subject to over-working, being over-loaded and mistreated.
What is the best part of your job?
Coordinating my team of vets, community trainers and educators to serve the working animals who desperately need our services, and seeing the results: healthier animals. Seeing communities handling their animals humanely after SPANA’s community training is the other best part of my job. Also seeing the ripple effect of our Animal Welfare Club members’ peer influence in the entire school community is very satisfying.
Find out more about how SPANA helps working animals in Mauritania.
Find out more about how SPANA helps working animals in Mauritania.