By Nape Masemola and Matsobane Manaka
State Veterinarians, Dr Thabang Seoka, Dr Lee-Ann Minnie, Dr Florence Makgamatha (Deputy Director), Dr Lorraine Nong, Dr Mogau Matsane and Dr Mothusiemang Mentor, are behind the promotion of veterinary outreach.
The Limpopo Department of Agriculture and Rural Development Veterinary Directorate recently hosted Veterinary Pop-Up Clinic Service outreach program at Mpheleng Village in Elias Motsoaledi Local Municipality.
The outreach program is aimed at providing accessible and affordable animal health services to the community, the Pop-Up Clinic is an innovative way to deliver effective primary animal health care services to the farmers whereby State Veterinary and Animal Health Technician converge to a central location to render services for one community and surrounding areas. Primary Health Services offered on the day included early detection of diseases, dipping, Rabies vaccination, deworming of domestic animals and the administration of basic treatments and advice.
Animal (livestock) owners, pet owners and any member of the public with interest in veterinary animal health related information in Mpheleng and nearby villages such as Matlala Lehwelere, Matlala Thabeng, Mapekereng, Naganeng, Lusaka, Kgobokwane, Dennilton, and Waalkraal) converged to the Mpheleng Dip-Tank to access the service.
The activities started early in the morning with Animal Health Technician Puleng Khobotle doing loud hailing reminding livestock owners to bring their animal while the team started with dipping of cattle under the guidance of Dr Mothusi Mentoor.
Speaking to Temo News, Dr Mentoor highlighted that primary animal health services are expensive and applauded the department for offering such services for free and that Pop Up Clinic is one of the initiatives that also reduce cost for farmers since all services are offered at the doorstep of farmers.
Dr Mentoor indicated that farmers will benefit from improved animal health and welfare in the community and increased awareness on animal health issues as well as enhanced access to state veterinary services.
Dr Mentoor went further to highlight that one of the most important objectives of the Pop-up Clinic is early detection of diseases which offers a significant benefit to farmers including higher survival rate and more effective, less aggressive treatments to animal which also reduces cost and spread. According to the Dr., over 100 Livestock owners were seen on the day with mainly Rabies vaccination, goat deforming, and ocular infection and dipping as some of the treatment given. Nasal discharge, goat fleas and cattle diarrhoea were also identified and treated on the spot.
Patrick Maibelo (right), an animal technician who apply treatment on a dog brought by owner.
