Tunisia was one of the first countries our founder Kate and Nina Hosali visited in the 1920s to treat sick and injured working animals. Today, as the Hosalis did all those years ago, our team visits remote towns and souks to provide free veterinary care for animals in need.
Tunisia AT A GLANCE
- Population: 11.5 million
- Area: 164,150 sq km
- Location: North Africa
- Capital City: Tunis
- Estimated number of working equines and camels: 619,000
Spana Operations
Veterinary Care
Last year, our dedicated team provided treatments to more than 18,000 working animals in Tunisia.
- Three SPANA centres based in Bou Salem, Kasserine and Kebili
- Four mobile veterinary clinics visiting animals in souks and rural areas, some of which are isolated and impoverished, five days a week
Education
- Our education work currently consists of a network of animal clubs in schools and our hands-on mobile exhibition in an interactive education bus which tours the country
- A new mobile exhibition unit to bring engaging, interactive displays and information to schoolchildren across the country
- 16,047 pupil visits to education centres in the past year
Training
SPANA operates a clinical skills centre (CSC) in Tunisia. 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.
MEET THE COUNTRY DIRECTOR: SAMI MZABI
Sami is one of SPANA’s longest serving staff members, first joining the charity in the 1980s. Five years ago Sami took up the post of Country Director and is responsible for our veterinary and education programmes, as well as looking after our dedicated 20 staff members there. Here is what he loves about working for the charity:
‘SPANA Tunisia is an incredibly rewarding place to work, not only for me but for the whole team who are all passionate about donkeys, horses, mules and camels. We are all very proud to be able to help improve the lives of sick and injured working animals which, without us, might never receive any veterinary care. I also like that our work directly helps the owners of working animals too, who are some of the poorest people in Tunisia. Even though our jobs can often be challenging, it is really satisfying to see that we are making a real difference to both animals and people.’
Other countries we work in
Helping working animals in Ethiopia
Find out more about how SPANA helps working animals in Ethiopia.
Helping working animals in Ethiopia
Find out more about how SPANA helps working animals in Ethiopia.