Providing Veterinary Aid and Support in Indonesia
World Vets has a veterinary team working in Indonesia as part of the 2012 Pacific Partnership mission. This humanitarian aid mission is operated on an annual basis in the Pacific region and is led by the US Navy. Through a collaboration with partner and host nations, as well as foreign military and medical personnel, in addition to nongovernmental organizations, medical, dental and veterinary aid is provided.
This past week our team has been working in Indonesia with US military veterinarians and technicians, the local Animal Health Division as well as Ratulangi University. Together they have provided free vaccinations and de-worming for up to 1700 cats and dogs, in addition to operating free spay/neuter clinics.
Aside from direct veterinary aid, our team has also provided surgical instruction to Indonesian veterinar
ians and given presentations, commonly known as SMEE’s (subject matter expert exchanges), at the university to Indonesian students and veterinary professionals.
World Vets volunteers live on board a US Navy ship and provide their veterinary services on shore in host nations. As part of the Pacific Partnership 2012 mission, World Vets team will provide their services in four host nations this summer- Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia.
World Vets team for the first rotation of the Pacific Partnership 2012 mission is now on board the USNS MERCY. They have quickly gotten to work preparing their presentations and lectures that will be given in the four host nations to be visited; Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Cambodia. These presentations are commonly referred to as SMEE’s – Subject Matter Expert Exchanges. As such, our team will not only be providing direct veterinary aid on this mission, but will also be educating on various topics and issues relating to veterinary medicine.