21 / 24
EQU INESK I L L S AFR I CA
The Gambia Horse
and Donkey Trust
Paul Smith BVM&S CertEP MRCVS,
Westmorland Equine Vets
Veterinary surgeon
Paul Smith
XLEquine practice
Westmorland
Veterinary Group
The Gambia is one of the smallest countries in mainland
Africa covering a little over 11,000 km
2
and with a
population of less than 2 million.
It’s a fertile country and around three quarters
of the population are involved in agriculture,
but almost half find themselves living below
the poverty line. Investment in a working horse
or donkey can significantly increase a farming
family’s income, but a combination of high
disease risk, poor management and a lack of
veterinary support means that keeping them
healthy is a real challenge.
Founded in 2002 by the late Stella Marsden
and her sister Heather Armstrong, The
Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust (GHDT) was
established with the aim of reducing rural
poverty in The Gambia by improving the
health, welfare and productivity of its working
animals. The philosophy of the GHDT is that
by providing the Gambian people with the
skills and knowledge to prevent and solve
their own problems a long term and
sustainable solution will be achieved. As a
result there is a strong emphasis on education,
with GHDT staff and volunteers delivering
training to farriers, harness makers and
government livestock assistants in addition to
providing routine veterinary care.
The GHDT is a relatively small charity,
running on a stretched budget and relying
on international volunteers for administrative
and veterinary expertise. So in February
2014, Louise Cornish, formerly of Clyde
Vet Group, and myself headed off to the
GHDT to offer our help and see first-hand
the excellent work they do.
The primary purpose of our trip was to deliver
a four day CPD programme to GHDT staff
members, livestock assistants and paravets
from across the country. Lectures were
delivered in the shade of an enormous tree
and Powerpoint was abandoned in favour of
blackboard and chalk borrowed from the
local school. Topics covered were the usual
‘staples’ of equine CPD, colic, wound care,
lameness etcetera but, given the lack of even
basic equipment and the very limited supply
of essential drugs, training needed to be
hastily tailored to the resources available.
The delegates’ compassion for their patients
and their irrepressible enthusiasm to learn
served only to highlight the frustrations of the
extremely difficult conditions they work under.
In the days following the conference our time
was spent treating horses, donkeys and the
odd cow at either the local loomos (markets)
or at the GHDT clinic at Sambel Kunda.
The majority of the work was familiar, such
as dentistry, ophthalmic problems, wounds
and castrations but we were faced with
some slightly more exotic diseases such as
trypanosomiasis and epizootic lymphangitis.
Conditions were hot, dusty and dirty but
the work was truly rewarding and even
recognised in a commendation from the
Gambian government.
The aim moving forward is to strengthen the
affiliation between XLEquine and the GHDT,
helping to raise awareness, raise money and
to supply volunteers twice a year to provide
ongoing training. If you feel you or your
practice could help or for further information
please contact XLEquine on 01228 711788.
SUMMER 2015 ISSUE
EQUINE MATTERS
20