The team is expanding to cope with the workload.
In early 2022 our Afghan ground team headed up by the extremely brave Dr Reshad, opened the new Nowzad clinic and our first clients were very quickly coming through the door. Through the hard work and dedication of the Nowzad staff the clinic is now a fully functioning and well equipped facility. It is also the base for Nowzad’s various programs which include:-
- TNVR (trap, neuter, vaccinate, release) campaigns which humanely reduce the stray animal population and disease;
- The Working Animal Program which provides treatment for the working donkeys, horses and mules;
- The Education program which provides animal welfare and rabies awareness education in the community and animal husbandry education to the owners of the working animals;
The majority of our services are still free for locals and their animals especially vaccinations and spay / neutering services. All this important work has been acknowledged by the authorities and in 2023 the clinic was granted Animal Hospital status.
There are approximately 5,900 working donkeys, horses and mules working in Kabul and its surrounding districts. Many suffer from overwork and neglect. The animals are often owned by the poorest members of society who struggle to provide even the most basic of care. We have had a steady stream of working animal clients, struggling with severe and often very old wounds from ill-fitting saddles or harnesses. Many horses and donkeys suffer injuries from failing down whilst navigating uneven or soft ground whilst carrying unbelievable heavy loads.
Dr Reshad and the Kabul team are working hard to provide veterinary and farrier treatment and vaccinations. Importantly too they give animal husbandry advice to the owners.