My African Adventure!

After a short flight from Glasgow to London Heathrow I met up with the rest of the WVS (World Veterinary Service) team heading out for our long flight onto Malawi. I was very nervous but also very excited for what was awaiting us.

 After travelling for almost 24 hours we were met at the airport by Bev and Jacob who both help out at the LSPCA ( Lilongwe Society for the protection and care of animals ) They were very happy about the work we were coming out to do. They dropped us off at Karen's house who was our host for a couple of days before we were to move on. Later on that evening Donna ( RSPCA international ) and Richard ( LSPCA vet ) came round to introduce them self to us and give us a brief description about the work ahead of us.

 Later on that evening we were all absolutely shattered from travelling so we got our heads down for an early night and so that we would be ready for an early start the following morning.

 I awoke the following morning again I was very nervous but excited. We were picked up at 8am and we travelled into one of the local villages ( Chinsapo ) for a farm clinic day. Some of the LSPCA helpers had been in the village the previous day to spread the word that there would be free veterinary treatment. We soon set up the clinic consisting of a tent and a couple of examination tables. Whilst we were setting up the locals were registering at an anther tent. We were all set up and ready to go when Donna arrived along with Joe Inglis who is LSPCA patron and was out to help for a week.

 Soon after we were all organised we started with our first animals most of which were chickens for tick /lice treatment and to get vaccinated against Newcastle disease, which Richard was hoping to teach the locals how to administer in the future. Some of the team split up and went to treat some donkeys, goats and pigs.

 Meanwhile the locals were arriving in there dozens as the word got around about our presence. I was on chicken duty and was quite amazed with the number of chickens that they can fit into such small baskets! We just had to treat as many as we could until we had run out of vaccine and medication. I think that we must have treated well over 800 chickens.

 We soon started to pack up after a very long and busy first day and went back to Karen's house were we were all very grateful for our food and showers that evening. Again we all had an early night.

 The following morning we were picked up to go back into Chinsapo for a neutering clinic day, again we set up out tent and theatre tables.

 Spay bitches were quite nerve racking as they would take longer than the anaesthetic, which would wear off and I was often asking Richard for top ups. All spays and castrates received Antibiotics and Pain relief routinely. Whilst the dogs were getting neutered I would be notching the ear. (Allows easy identification of the neutered animals) In the meantime Joe was amputing a pups forelimb, after the successful operation Donna was nursing the pup who was being very brave.  After another land day we started to pack up I think we must have neutered about 30 dogs. 


The next again day we split into pairs to go out into local villages for a Rabies vaccination clinic. Myself and Jo were the last to be dropped off unfortunately by the time we arrived most animals had been vaccinated or the vaccines had run out. Later on the day we all met up again as we were travelling up to Cape Maclear at Lake Malawi, travelling up we had some amazing scenery to take in. After a very long drive we arrived in darkness and got settled in.

 The following morning I woke very early so I went for a walk, I could hardly believe the breathtaking scenery of the Lake. This was our day off so we all treated ourselves and hired a catamaran to take in more of the lake.

 The next day we travelled down to Mua Mission were we would be for a couple of days. This was a lot smaller than previous neutering clinics and a lot more organised and relaxed than Chinsapo. We set up tent again and this time agreed to do only castrations. The village with veterinary hospital support was too far away in case the more complicated spays needed attention. That afternoon we went out to do farm visits a local farmer had rounded up his heard of cattle into his basic crush Jo checked them all over and gave basic treatment for wounds which was purple spray and antibiotic injections if needed for deep wounds.

 The following day Lee form LSPCA was travelling up to Mua Mission the locals had been holding a crocodile and python in captivity Lee was coming up to take them back to the wildlife centre. They arrived mid afternoon and there was a lot of anticipation amongst the locals. We got ropes and blankets set up for the crocodile whilst this was going on more and more locals had gathered. We left the experts to it when it came to capturing the crocodile and python!

 They successfully captured them and transported them back to the wildlife centre, we were also travelling back down to Lilongwe.

 The following day we spent at the wildlife centre we examined the python and then the crocodile, which had settled in very well especially when his enclosure was sharing with the centres female crocodile, so there may be some baby crocs.

 After spending the morning at the centre we had a free afternoon which we spent bargain hunting for souvenirs of our trip to take back home.

 Richard had organised a BBQ that evening for our last night which was great all the team over the last 10 days was there.

 Our last day we tried to get as much of rest as possible ready for our long journey back to the UK. We were pick up at lunch time by Richard, Donna, Jacob, Clement and Pauline who all came to the airport to wave us off.

 I was sad to be leaving Malawi but very proud about the amount we had achieved in such a short space of time and hoped it would make a change for the better.

 I would recommend this African Adventure to anyone, it is though hard work and sometimes can get very emotional but it is very rewarding and has been one of my lifetimes greatest achievements.

 Dawn Aitken.

 

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