Celebrating the Ones Who Keep Our Animals Healthy
This World Veterinary Day, April 29, we’re acknowledging the vital work of animal health care providers across the globe by shining a light on a few of those from our projects who have made a huge impact on their communities.
Kellyn Castro lives on 22 acres in Olancho, Honduras with her husband, Franklin, and 8-month-old son, Ian.
Prior to Heifer’s support, the farmers in Kellyn's village traveled hours on foot to secure essential supplies and medical care for their animals. But through a Heifer Honduras program, Kellyn and other community leaders were trained in proper cow management, disease control, reproduction, diet and supplements so they could help farmers improve the welfare of their animals and ensure a steadier source of income.
“Before Heifer we didn't know things like working properly with cows, cattle deficiencies,” said Kellyn. “Now with Heifer we know about diseases cattle get, how to treat it, how to treat deficiencies.”
In the Rungwe district of Tanzania, 35-year-old Joseph Josephat, a father of three with a degree in animal husbandry, has established a shop to supply local farmers with the training, food, medications and minerals needed to keep their livestock healthy.
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Through his hands-on approach and expertise, Joseph has become well known in his community, and has plans to expand his shop into a clinic that can offer everything from comprehensive veterinary services to his own formulation of feed containing essential minerals to enhance livestock nutrition.
“The day I met Heifer, I only had a motorcycle, but now I have a shop and my car there. And at the end of the day, the breeders trust me due to the quality of my work, and that's what I'm proud of.”
When COVID took the world by storm, Kusu Maya Malla, a 40-year-old mother and goat farmer in the hilly region of Parbat, Nepal, decided to forge a new path for herself and completed Heifer’s digital training to become an animal health care provider.
Kusu delivers critical veterinary services to a region of 600 farming families and earns income to pay for her daughter’s education and purchase healthier goats for her own farm.
“This is what brings satisfaction, that I can help my family and my community with the skills that I have learnt.”
Click here to read about three more animal health care providers who are ensuring farmers have the resources they need to keep their livestock healthy and well.
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Work hard and be patient. The rest will follow!!!
1yA big Congratulations & appreciation to all of those & also hats off of being their pure dedications
Many many thanks!!!