College of Agriculture & Environmental Sciences

Unisa Mobile Clinic—“the innovation training tool”—on the move in service of communities

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The whole team on site: front, Mrs Mbatha (PDSA), volunteer (PDSA), Mr Nephawe (PDSA), Dr Prudence Kayoka (Unisa), Ms Simelane (PDSA), volunteer (PDSA), three young members of the community who brought their pets for treatment, and, middle (standing), Dr Ciwawa (PDSA), Dr Katumbayi (PDSA), and the Matric learner, followed by Unisa students Dr Malepe (with a stethoscope around her neck), holding a volunteer (PDSA), Mr Kobo (Unisa WIL mentor), and on his left, Dr Budunki (PDSA), and, back, Unisa students

On Saturday 30 June from 09:00 to 16:00, a dedicated team of Unisans accompanied by animal health technician students and a matric learner aspiring to pursue her veterinary studies conducted a number of activities in Westonaria, west of Johannesburg.

The activities were carried out in collaboration with one of our NGO partners, the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), Gauteng Veterinary Services, Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA), and Pet Awareness Lenasia Society (PALS).

Community members came in numbers bringing dogs and cats for primary health care. Our students were involved and very useful and we would have been overwhelmed without their assistance. Unisa lecturers had the opportunity to guide the students and demonstrate first-hand how all modules in the curriculum are interlinked and how the curriculum can be applied.

The different activities included deworming, treatment of infestation with ectoparasites such as ticks and fleas, and vaccination against rabies and other canine and feline viral diseases. Surgical activities comprised castrations and hysterectomies. Students were able to rotate at the different stations and handle each activity on their own after demonstration.

This was a historical moment and a very successful one at that, with more than 300 dogs and cats being treated. Training of our students continued on the day while simultaneously serving our communities to prevent human infection with fatal rabies and other zoonoses as well as helping to prevent unwanted puppies/kittens!

Our students were unanimous in their expression of time well spent, the cold notwithstanding. They had no regrets whatsoever about joining the mobile clinic on the move!

Dr Prudence Kayoka (Unisa) calming a dog prior to anaesthetic induction

Ms Simelane (PDSA) explaining to students how to sedate a dog prior to surgery

Dr Malepe (Unisa) demonstrating to Prof Mbajiorgu (Unisa) how to use the leash to restrain his dog

Prof Mbajiorgu is a good learner; he has mastered the use of the leash.

The whole team of Unisa students who assisted on the day

*By Prudence Kayoka-Kabongo

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Publish date: 2018-07-16 00:00:00.0

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