Oumou the donkey’s visit to SPANA’s mobile clinic

Find out how Oumou the donkey was able to receive vital veterinary care thanks to SPANA’s mobile clinic.

Oumou the donkey supports her owner, Karim, making it possible for him to earn a small income. During the dry season, Oumou transports firewood and carries out agricultural work in the rural village of Samanko, in southern Mali. Without Oumou, Karim would be unable to provide for his multi-generation family. 

Recently, Oumou had developed a small sore on her nose from her old, worn harness. Karim was also concerned that his donkey was having trouble eating. Their village is in a rural area and, without the SPANA mobile clinic, which makes regular visits to Samanko, Karim would have no means of accessing essential treatment for Oumou.

The next time SPANA’s mobile clinic visited Samanko, Karim brought Oumou along to receive the help she needed. At the mobile clinic – which had set up in the centre of the village – SPANA’s veterinary team examined Oumou. They discovered that the donkey was finding it difficult to eat because her teeth were overgrown and needed filing. 

Our vets first cleaned the sore on Oumou’s nose with disinfectant, then showed Karim how to keep it clean until the sore had healed. They also provided Karim with a new noseband to prevent her harness from rubbing again. The vets then set to work rasping Oumou’s teeth so that they were even, and all the sharp points were smoothed down.

Karim was extremely thankful for SPANA’s help. He said: ‘My donkey helps me so much. She is so important to me. I have known SPANA for 20 years and they always help my animals. I can’t even explain how important SPANA is to me.’

Your continued support enables our 39 mobile clinics to provide vital veterinary care to working animals like Oumou in remote and isolated communities across the world. Without SPANA’s mobile clinics, many working animals would have no access to professional veterinary care. Thanks to your kindness, our specialist mobile clinics are stocked with everything our vets need to deliver lifesaving treatment and support to vulnerable working animals. Thank you so much for caring for working animals in need.

You may also be interested in

Omar the donkey’s excruciating colic

Find out how SPANA’s veterinary team in Tunisia helped Omar, a donkey with a bad case of colic.

Mulatu the carthorse’s comfortable new harness

When Mulatu the carthorse’s worn harness caused an agonising wound, SPANA’s veterinary team in Ethiopia gave him the care he urgently needed.

A lifesaving stay at the SPANA stables

Find out how SPANA’s veterinary team saved Went, a donkey who needed three days of intensive care at our veterinary centre in Mauritania.

Omar the donkey’s excruciating colic

Find out how SPANA’s veterinary team in Tunisia helped Omar, a donkey with a bad case of colic.

Mulatu the carthorse’s comfortable new harness

When Mulatu the carthorse’s worn harness caused an agonising wound, SPANA’s veterinary team in Ethiopia gave him the care he urgently needed.

A lifesaving stay at the SPANA stables

Find out how SPANA’s veterinary team saved Went, a donkey who needed three days of intensive care at our veterinary centre in Mauritania.