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ESSENTIAL DESTINATIONS
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MONTH: June 2006
Brooke outreach in Pakistan, Afghanistan
Donkey being dewormed in Afghanistan
MULTAN––Often the young pro-animal organizations of the Islamic world can do little beyond raising awareness, with proclamations such as a June 3, 2006 resolution by the Animal Save Movement of Multan, Pakistan, objecting to overdriving oxen, donkeys, and horses in the summer heat.
But Pakistan is among the seven nations, four predominantly Muslim and two others with substantial Muslim minorities, in which the British-based Brooke Fund for Animals operates equine clinics––including a clinic in Multan.
The Brooke began working in Pakistan in 1991 with a mobile clinic operating out of Peshawar in 1991. That project rapidly expanded into a base clinic, two field clinics, and six mobile veterinary teams.
“Our work spread to Lahore in April 1993,” recounts the Brooke web site. “There are now ten mobile teams working from two field clinics in Lahore. Our Multan clinic opened in 1995, and in 1996 our Dutch Supporters’ Group helped to raise enough money to open another clinic in Mardan. In 1997 we began operations in Gujranwala.”
In addition, “A mobile team now provides free veterinary care for working horses and donkeys in the southern Afghan city of Jalalabad, as well as saddlery and farriery training and equine education programmes for owners,” the web site says.
Altogether, the Brooke treats about 250,000 animals per year in Pakistan.
After several months of helping Afghan refugees’ animals in camps along the Pakistan border, the Brooke in February 2003 began working within Afghanistan, in partnership with the Committee for Rehabilitation Aid to Afghanistan, the World Society for the Protection of Animals, and the American Zoo Association.
“Since the start of the Shahzada Health Equine Foundation for Afghanistan project, i.e. February 2003, our vets have de-wormed more than 35,000 equines, and nearly 14,000 equine owners have been educated about equine management,” Brooke publicist Niki Austin told ANIMAL PEOPLE.
“For 2006-2007,” Austin said, “we aim to continue to support our five teams, four of which cover Nanghahar Province from Jalalabad. One works in the areas around Kabul. Routine treatment numbers in established areas of work have dropped dramatically over the period of the project, as the community education programs have developed.
“In Kunduz Province,” Austin added, “where many horses are used for ploughing, the Brooke has sunk four wells–– for use by both people and animals. Three wayside stations offer places of rest and water on the roadside. In Kabul Province, two wells have been sunk in the brick kiln areas.”