Indian Battalion provides veterinary services in Jonglei

10 Sep 2013

Indian Battalion provides veterinary services in Jonglei

10 September 2013 - Supporting local pastoral communities in Jonglei State to control the spread of diseases among their livestock, UNMISS Indian Battalion veterinary doctors are conducting animal treatment camps in the state.

The veterinary camps, which are held six times a week in collaboration with the State Ministry of Fisheries and Animal Resources, provide free drugs and training of local personnel to carry out clinical examination and treatment of animals.

"I appreciate the veterinary treatment given to my cows by the Indian battalion," said Deng Majok, a pastoralist from the payam of Kulnyang. "First of all, it is free. Secondly, it protects our cows from certain types of diseases that we do not know."

Mr. Majok said it was the first time his animals had received treatment since the second civil war broke out in 1983 between Sudan and rebels from the country's southern states.

"We Dinka community survive on cows," he added, underscoring the importance of the service. "Our children are able to go to school because of these cows."

Since October 2012, the Indian Battalion has treated over 13,000 cattle, sheep and goats at makeshift veterinary aid camps and another 9,500 animals in veterinary clinics across Jonglei.

Lt. Col. Shiba Kumar Mishra, one of the Indian veterinary doctors, said that in addition to helping local residents to protect their animals against disease, the service would also help to bolster food security.

"Secondly, it will protect the people against contracting certain communicable diseases from cattle," he added.