nicaragua

Week Long Equine Welfare Clinics Finish up in Nicaragua

Oct 24

World Vets had a veterinary team in Nicaragua this past week. Together with local veterinarians and volunteers, they provided a week long equine welfare clinic. Working in a variety of locations, they reached both rural and urban horse populations, providing much needed veterinary services and care.

World Vets has been operating an equine welfare project, which provides free veterinary services to horses, in the Granada area for many years. We are thankful for the continual support of Fondation Brigitte Bardot of this ongoing endeavor.

Textbook Drive Benefits Veterinarians and Students in Developing Countries

Aug 27

Donated books in Granada, Nicaragua

Thanks to your support, the World Vets textbook drive was a success! A variety of veterinary textbooks have been collected and distributed benefiting both veterinarians and veterinary students in multiple countries around the globe.

The World Vets Latin America Veterinary Training Center, located in Granada, Nicaragua, now has a free access bookshelf available to Latin American vets and students visiting our training center for free surgical instruction. This provides a variety of materials to those who would otherwise have no access to these types of resources. Most of the veterinary students in Nicaragua do not have access to any textbooks, so this is a great resource.

Collected textbooks were also distributed to communities in the Marshall Islands, Solomon Islands and Kiribati during the 2013 Pacific Partnership Mission.

Sudan University of Bahri with donated textbooks

Left to Right – Prof. Adil Suliman, Prof. Abal Wahab, Dr.Rasha Nouman and Dr.Abbas.

Most recently, World Vets was able to help provide veterinary textbooks to Bahri University in Sudan. A special thanks to Dr. Rasha Nouman for hand delivering the textbooks. It was reported that these books have been a great addition to the university’s small library.

Books that were distributed through the textbook drive not only cover a wide range of veterinary subjects, but they also contain up to date and reliable veterinary information and training methods. Access to these textbooks allow readers the opportunity to gain a better understanding of safe and effective veterinary practices, encouraging a healthier and more sustainable community for their future.

None of this would be possible without the help of World Vets donors. We can not thank you enough for your support! World Vets is still collecting monetary donations to help cover the shipping costs for us to send additional veterinary textbooks to those in need. If you would like to help, please click HERE.

Support our Nicaraguan Interns: Contribute to World Vets Internship Fundraiser

Aug 26

Since 2011, World Vets has provided free surgical training to Latin American veterinarians and upper level veterinary students at our Latin America Veterinary Training Center (LATC) located in Granada, Nicaragua. Short courses are offered year round and we also just launched extended learning opportunities for more in depth training. This summer World Vets was excited to welcome three Latin American interns to the LATC team. World Vets is currently training these interns in a structured, in-depth and supportive learning environment. Through this 6 month internship, each participant will receive high quality instruction in surgical techniques, anesthesia, patient safety and comfort as well as pain management. We strive to create a positive and low-stress learning environment that will advance the interns veterinary career and their ability to better care for their patients. These services are provided free of charge to both the animals and interns. We need your help to make these programs possible! We invite you to sponsor the training of these future veterinary leaders. You can help our interns reach their goals and apply their gained knowledge towards helping the underprivileged animals of Latin America!

Take a moment to learn more about each intern and please consider making a contribution.

Meet the Interns

Click Julie’s picture to make a contribution to her internship!

Julie

Julie is a veterinarian from Jinotega. Ever since she was a young girl she had an interest in animals and wanted to help them. Her previous veterinary experience has been exclusively with large animals, but she has a strong desire to help the dogs and cats in her community. This World Vets internship represents a new phase in her veterinary career as it will provide her with new skills and knowledge involving companion animals. After the internship, Julie plans to go back to her hometown and bring much needed veterinary care for companion animals in her community. Sponsor Julie HERE.

Mariela

Click Mariela’s picture to make a contribution to her internship!

Mariela is from La Trinidad, which is located near the city of Esteli, Nicaragua. She has participated in previous training sessions offered through World Vets and is in her final year of veterinary school at the Universidad Católica Agropecuaria del Trópico Seco. She has always had an interest in animals and the desire to help them. She currently owns 3 dogs and a cat. After her internship, Mariela plans to work as a veterinarian with companion animals. Sponsor Mariela HERE.

Click Mariel’s picture to make a contribution to her internship!

Mariel

Mariel is from Condega, located in the department of Esteli. She is in her last year of veterinary school at the Universidad Católica Agropecuaria del Trópico Seco and plans to become a veterinarian that works with companion animals. She likes to spend her free time with her family, her pet maltese and riding horses. Sponsor Mariel HERE.

By supporting the World Vets Latin American Training Center internships, not only will you help provide important veterinary training, but you’re also helping communities who do not have access to veterinary services for their animals. Thank you for your support!

One Health in Action: Partnership to Benefit Rural Communities

Jul 16

World Vets field service veterinarian, Dr Jerry Brown, with MINSA employee at community outreach clinic; Nicaragua

World Vets volunteers vaccinating for rabies during community outreach clinic; Nicaragua

Pet owners wait in line with their dogs to receive rabies vaccination

Over the past six years, World Vets has maintained a constant presence in Nicaragua providing much needed veterinary services as well as capacity building. In this time, we have executed countless field clinics, benefiting thousands of animals, in addition to helping those access treatments and procedures that were previously unavailable.

We have also established a Latin America Veterinary Training Center located within the city of Granada. This facility provides free spay and neuter services benefiting animals in and around the area, meanwhile training the next generation of Latin American veterinarians in proper anesthesia and surgery techniques. The center also hosts our student program (World Vets International Veterinary Medicine Program) where students representing nearly every veterinary school in North America (as well as other schools from around the world) have come to learn, help animals in need and gain invaluable experience in international veterinary medicine.

To add to our program service and community impact, we have recently partnered with the Ministry of Health (MINSA) in Nicaragua to help eradicate rabies in the country. As part of our weekly community outreach clinics, where we take our services out into rural communities, we are now providing free rabies vaccinations for all dogs. Our community outreach efforts are a vital way to help poor communities that would otherwise not have access to or a means of obtaining veterinary care.

One Health is and remains a cornerstone of all of our activities in Nicaragua. Together with MINSA we are committed to improving the health of animals and communities in the country.

See more pictures

Making a Difference: World Vets Latin America Veterinary Training Center

Oct 16

At the end of 2011, World Vets celebrated the grand opening of our Latin America Veterinary Training Center located in Granada, Nicaragua. This center was established to provide free surgical instruction and training to Latin American veterinarians and upper level veterinary students. Outfitted with modern equipment such as gas anesthesia, central oxygen, pulse oximeters, fluid pumps, autoclave, centrifuge and ultrasound, we strive to teach and practice high quality veterinary medicine.

We currently employ three full time Nicaraguan veterinarians who provide weekly training sessions in Spanish as part of this program. Prior to their employment, they had volunteered with World Vets as veterinary students during our Nicaraguan field clinics. They now provide high quality instruction in surgical techniques, safe anesthesia, patient safety and comfort as well as pain management. To date we have had over 100 participants receive training as part this program. Veterinarians and students have come from all over Nicaragua and have even traveled from Mexico, Guatemala and Peru to take part.

World Vets was recently presented with an award from La Universidad Catolica del Tropico Seco de Esteli (UCATSE), in association with their Agricultural Science Department, based in Esteli, Nicaragua. This award was given in recognition of the invaluable support that we have provided to their students in helping to shape their futures as veterinarians.

Even though it is a training facility, our number one priority is always to provide the best patient care possible for each and every animal that comes through the center. These much needed spay/neuter services as well as any additional medical treatments that may be needed for the patient are provided completely free of charge to pet owners and for street animals. As a result of this program, we have provided over 3500 surgical procedures at no cost to local pet owners and street dogs. What’s more, our Nicaraguan veterinarians provide a door to door service for rural animals; picking them up for surgery and returning them home following recovery.

Our training center not only provides instruction and training to animal healthcare professionals. It is also benefitting many communities outlying the city of Granada who do not have access to veterinary services for their animals. To keep up to date with our training center activities, `like` its page on Facebook here

We thank Fondation Briggite Bardot for their support of this program

Attention Students! IVM Program: Winter 2013 Sessions Finalized

Jul 29

ATTENTION STUDENTS!

IVM Program sessions have been scheduled for Winter 2013. Dates have now been posted on the Upcoming Projects page. World Vets members will have the opportunity to register early for student positions. Following this, registration will open on World Vets website for general sign up. Please note that the full program fee amount will be due at the time of registration.

World Vets International Veterinary Medicine (IVM) Program is World Vets student program. Operating out of our Latin American Veterinary Training Center in Granada, Nicaragua, it provides international students with an opportunity to gain practical veterinary experience. Students read more here

DVM & LVT/RVT Instructors are also needed for this program. To qualify for an instructor position, you must either be a licensed veterinarian and/or technician and have a minimum of one year clinical experience. Previous teaching experience is not a prerequisite. This is a volunteer opportunity with limited expenses for you.

Fostering Animal Wellness in Rural Nicaragua

Jul 19

Photo: Katie Horn/World Vets

Photo: Van Olsen Photography

Photo: Katie Horn/WorldVets

As World Vets team pulled up to the local school, which was to be our clinic site, piglets and chickens were busy foraging on the school grounds. Unafraid of our presence they continued about their daily routine. As we proceeded to set up our work stations we were greeted by a donkey that happened to preside over a family’s small agricultural plot next door. He provided constant reminders of his presence, “hee – haw”, that enticed many of us to go see him throughout the work day.

As veterinary services got underway, children and grown men dressed in their Sunday’s best began to form a line around the registration desk. Dogs were brought to us in handbags, on carts and wheelbarrows and cats surprisingly enough were carried in on string leashes or in cardboard boxes. Half came to us to receive spay/neuter surgery and the other half for health consultations

Until recently World Vets had not set up a direct veterinary service campaign in this particular community. Located 25 minutes or so outside of the main town of San Juan del Sur, the rural community of Escamequita is a world of its own. In contrast to town, houses are scattered over considerable distances and made from all kinds of materials; from wood to metal scrap and/or brick. All animals, including dogs, pigs, chickens and turkeys roam free, yet everyone knows which house they belong to. Furthermore, potable water may only be accessible from a well and during the rainy season the only road to and from Escamequita may be washed out, limiting contact with town and its subsequent products and services.

Even though World Vets had never visited the area before, the animals of Escamequita have quite a history with World Vets and the services we have provided in San Juan del Sur over the years. This has much to do with concerned and kind hearted expatriates who also live in the area. Without hesitation, they have rallied local households and loaded up their trucks with animals, accompanied by their owners, to receive our services, wherever they would be provided. The animals brought to us in their vehicles were always the ones that had the worse body conditions and needed the most TLC from our teams.

After years of their dedication and demand for veterinary care, it made perfect sense to bring our services directly to them. Our recent campaign in Escamequita has acted to harness this growing awareness of animal welfare and responsible pet ownership, especially amongst the young population. Many animals from the original “truck loads” were first brought to us to receive spay/neuter surgery. Now we happily welcome them back for follow up medical treatments. And wouldn’t you know it; they were some of the healthiest looking bunch during our recent campaign!

Photo: Van Olsen Photography

Our visit to Escamequita has also served to further promote the concept of animal wellness, specifically for new pet owners who had not previously sought out our services either due to distance and/or logistics. In consultations we saw one young boy who brought his puppy for a check up and to receive preventative health treatments. This is the first step we explained, to being a responsible pet owner, and his father proudly agreed.

More than anything our veterinary services in rural communities such as Escamequita provide the means for individuals to care for and be responsible pet owners. It is a huge misconception that people in foreign countries simply do not care for their animals. They do! This young boy is but one example.

All of World Vets veterinary services are provided free of charge

Story write up: Katie Horn, World Vets International Programs Manager

July & August Volunteer Opportunities still available for Veterinarians

May 29

Volunteer veterinarians are still needed for two small animal projects that are scheduled to take place this summer in Ecuador (July) and Nicaragua (August). World Vets has been working in both areas since 2009 and has well established spay/neuter and animal health projects in and around Otavalo/Ibarra, Ecuador and San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua.

On a small animal project, veterinarians are typically involved in providing sterilization surgeries for cats and dogs, medical diagnosis and treatment, health consultations, and may be involved in performing other surgeries, teaching and/or instruction to students and/or local volunteers or pet owners.

Aside from three full days of veterinary work, volunteers will have free time to explore the local area and/or do some sightseeing and activities. Whether you like the beach or the mountains, either location has much to offer as a travel destination.

Read more about volunteer opportunity in Ecuador (July 17 – 24, 2013)

Read more about volunteer opportunity in Nicaragua (August 3 – 10, 2013)

World Vets Equine Welfare Clinic in Nicaragua

May 14

World Vets recently deployed a volunteer veterinary team to Granada, Nicaragua as part of our equine welfare project in the area. Our team, along with Nicaraguan veterinarians and students, held a free equine welfare clinic in and around the city which benefited 300 horses.

This clinic targeted carriage and cart horses whose owners can`t afford veterinary services for their working equines. Services included parasite control, hoof and dental work, vaccinations, castrations, pregnancy checks, wound treatments, mass removals and more!

This project is generously supported by Fondation Brigitte Bardot.

See pictures

IVM Program Spring Session Results

Apr 15

During the whole month of March, World Vets operated its International Veterinary Medicine (IVM) Program out of its Training Center facility located in Granada, Nicaragua.This program is specifically designed for veterinary, pre-veterinary and technician students who wish to gain clinical and practical experience, in addition to immersion within the field of international veterinary medicine. This program also provides volunteer opportunities for licensed veterinarians as well as licensed veterinary technicians as instructors.

As a result of this program, 214 spay/neuter surgeries were performed (during the month of March) on community owned animals that were in need of the operation. These much needed spay/neuter services, as well as any additional medical treatments, were provided free of charge to pet owners and the community.

World Vets