PENHA Veterinary Initiatives:
PENHA has always considered animal welfare in its activities, and a new project has been developed during 2021 with a focus on essential working animals (donkeys, mules, horses and pack camels) due to their significant economic and social value for vulnerable communities.
A baseline survey has been designed to perform a rapid assessment of the social and financial significance of these animals, and identify deficits in veterinary services and working animal welfare in the Horn of Africa. The survey and focus group discussions will form the foundation of a bespoke training programme to “train the trainers”, reaching the wider community including Community Animal
Health Workers, veterinary technicians and working animal owners, thereby improving the wellbeing of the animals and their communities in a sustainable manner.
The survey and network will initially be deployed in the Afar and Somali regions of Ethiopia, and the Kassala State in Sudan, with plans to extend the project to neighbouring regions and countries in the
following years. Critical analysis of the survey results will identify key socio-economic issues for owners of working animals, which leads to loss of income, gender inequality and reduced ability for
children to attend school.
Publishable results of the survey will be presented to key stakeholders such as Ministry Departments, Veterinary Universities and advocacy forums by PENHA associates and animal welfare champions to contribute to policy changes and enact long-term social development.
Examples of previous PENHA animal welfare projects:
PENHA-Uganda, Nkoma Farm exotic goats project: Improving facilities, feed and veterinary services, as well as increasing the number of livestock to maintain and develop the farm that supplies women’s groups to improve gender equality and community resilience whilst ensuring high welfare standards.
PENHA-Uganda, Conserving the Ankole Long-Horned cattle: This study was a result of PENHA’s participation in a workshop on ‘managing animal genetic resources in Africa – strategies, priorities, livestock keepers’ rights and the way forward’ held in Ethiopia. During the workshop, we were made aware that Ankole Long-Horned Cattle are among the breeds threatened with extinction. Apart from the social importance of the Ankole Cattle to the local community, the breed is also an important source of genetic material of particular relevance to cattle in arid areas of the world.
PENHA-Eritrea, Development of the Goluj Pastoralist Centre: Development of facilities for pastoralists with several objectives including the creation of a hub for the welfare and productivity of animals.
PENHA-Somaliland, Rapid assessment for policy intervention after Cyclone Sagar: Ensuring the welfare and safety of animals to protect them from future disasters.
PENHA-Sudan, Development of a technique to create palatable fodder using the weed, Prosopis: Introduction of simple technologies with traditional knowledge to improve fodder available to livestock during the dry season.