VETERINARIANS WITHOUT BORDERS USA

IN SOUTH SUDAN, VETERINARIANS WITHOUT BORDERS (VWB) ADVANCED FOOD SECURITY, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND COMMUNITY RESILIENCE THROUGH LIVESTOCK-FOCUSED ONE HEALTH PROGRAMMING. OVER THE PAST YEAR, VWB TRAINED 400 LIVESTOCK FARMERS ON MODERN GOAT-REARING PRACTICES TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY AND REDUCE DISEASE RISKS, WHILE 400 LOCAL-BREED GOATS WERE PROCURED AND DISTRIBUTED TO STRENGTHEN HOUSEHOLD NUTRITION AND INCOME. PARTICIPATORY ANIMAL HEALTH AND ZOONOTIC RISK ASSESSMENTS WERE CONDUCTED ACROSS FOUR PAYAMS, LAYING THE FOUNDATION FOR IMPROVED LOCAL DISEASE MONITORING AND PREVENTION. TO REINFORCE THESE SYSTEMS, FOUR ONE HEALTH TEAMS (OHTS) WERE ESTABLISHED, SERVING AS COMMUNITY-BASED MECHANISMS FOR OUTBREAK DETECTION, REPORTING, AND RAPID RESPONSE. ADDITIONALLY, 80 WOMEN WERE TRAINED IN SAFE HANDLING, PROCESSING, AND PRESERVATION OF LIVESTOCK PRODUCTS (MILK, MEAT, ETC.) AND IN WASH PRACTICES TO IMPROVE HOUSEHOLD HYGIENE AND REDUCE INFECTION RISKS. COMPLEMENTING THESE EFFORTS, 800 BARS OF SOAP WERE DISTRIBUTED TO PROMOTE FOOD SAFETY AND HYGIENE. IN ADDITION, TARGETED AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS INCREASED HOUSEHOLD UNDERSTANDING OF ZOONOTIC DISEASE PREVENTION AND ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE (AMR). COLLECTIVELY, THESE EFFORTS NOT ONLY IMPROVED LIVESTOCK PRODUCTIVITY BUT ALSO ENHANCED COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS AGAINST HEALTH THREATS. WITH VWB USA FUNDING, OUR TEAMS WERE ABLE TO DIRECTLY SUPPORT FARMER TRAINING AND RISK AWARENESS ACTIVITIES, PARTICULARLY AMONG THE 400 GOAT- RECEIVING HOUSEHOLDS.

IN UKRAINE, VWB PROVIDED A DUAL RESPONSE: ADDRESSING URGENT HUMANITARIAN NEEDS WHILE STRENGTHENING LONG-TERM RESILIENCE. EMERGENCY RELIEF INCLUDED THE DISTRIBUTION OF NEARLY 1,000 TONS OF PET FOOD TO 80 SHELTERS ACROSS 20 REGIONS, ENSURING SURVIVAL FOR COMPANION ANIMALS IN HIGH-NEED AREAS. UNDER "OPERATION SAFE PAWS," 1,790 DOGS AND CATS WERE EVACUATED FROM FRONTLINE ZONES, STERILIZED, AND PROVIDED WITH VETERINARY TREATMENT, OFTEN FOR SERIOUS INJURIES SUCH AS SHRAPNEL WOUNDS, BURNS, AND FRACTURES. VWB ALSO SUPPORTED A PARTNER CLINIC IN MYKOLAIV, TREATING 650 DOGS AND CATS. TO EXPAND SHELTER CAPACITY, VWB REHABILITATED FACILITIES AT THE PATRON PET CENTER IN KYIV, CONSTRUCTING 40 NEW ENCLOSURES TO ACCOMMODATE WAR- TRAUMATIZED PETS. BEYOND PHYSICAL CARE, VWB PROVIDED 1,825 VIRTUAL VETERINARY CONSULTATIONS TO DISPLACED PET OWNERS AND REFUGEES, ENSURING CONTINUED ACCESS TO ADVICE AND TREATMENT. RECOGNIZING SYSTEMIC NEEDS, VWB SUPPORTED 1,104 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES IN 13 UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES TO REDUCE STRAY OVERPOPULATION. AT THE SAME TIME, RURAL RESILIENCE WAS STRENGTHENED THROUGH THE DISTRIBUTION OF POULTRY KITS TO 440 HOUSEHOLDS AND TRAINING FOR 2,500 FARMERS IN ANIMAL HEALTH, HUSBANDRY, AND BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT-EQUIPPING FAMILIES TO REBUILD SUSTAINABLE LIVELIHOODS AMID DISPLACEMENT AND DISRUPTION. VWB USA'S FUNDING DIRECTLY CONTRIBUTED TO COMPANION ANIMAL CARE AND REHABILITATION, PARTICULARLY AT THE PATRON PET CENTER IN KYIV, WHERE IMPROVED FACILITIES AND VETERINARY SUPPORT ENHANCED CONDITIONS FOR RESCUED PETS. VWB USA'S SUPPORT ALSO ENABLED ACCESS TO VIRTUAL VETERINARY CARE, PROVIDING LIFESAVING CONSULTATIONS FOR DISPLACED PET OWNERS AND REFUGEES. THESE TARGETED CONTRIBUTIONS ENSURED THAT EVEN WITHIN THE BROADER EMERGENCY AND RECOVERY EFFORT, DISPLACED FAMILIES AND THEIR ANIMALS RECEIVED IMMEDIATE, TANGIBLE BENEFITS.