Dr Lachlan (“Dr Lach”), an Australian veterinarian and good friend of Nowzad’s, embarked on a mission to Afghanistan in May this year, to help advance knowledge and capacity at our Veterinary Hospital in Kabul.
Nowzad’s hospital, in the heart of the city, was opened officially in November 2023, and serves as a lifeline for animals in the war-torn country . Sadly though, veterinary studies are understandably limited in Afghanistan, and many graduates and animal health employees do not have a sufficient grasp, even of the basics. Dr Lach’s goal was to equip our team of Afghan vets with the skills and tools necessary to provide essential veterinary care to the country's animals.
With a generous donation of surgical equipment from Vet1 (click here to visit their website) which included anaesthetic machine, vaporiser, anaesthetic masks and tubing, Dr Lach got straight to work. He provided hands-on guidance in key veterinary procedures and techniques, like providing proper dental care and preventing infections and pain. Crucially, the Nowzad vet team sees so many horrific road-traffic accidents with hundreds of street dogs and cats in Kabul being injured every year, and so specifically asked Dr Lach for training on the intricacies of bone plating - a vital procedure for treating limb fractures in animals.
On his very first day in the county, Dr Lachlan was greeted by an unexpected surprise: a pair of wolf cubs that had been rescued by the Nowzad team. The cubs, orphaned and injured, were being treated at the hospital and he spent time examining them carefully and providing them with the necessary care. No mean feat considering they’re wild animals with the energy to go with it - releasing them back into the wild will be a Nowzad priority.
To gain a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by Afghan communities in the more rural, hard-to-reach areas, Dr Lach “enjoyed” some off-road terrain for a day, from the back of Nowzad’s new equine mobile clinic. Whether it’s at one of the country’s notorious brick kilns or at the numerous migrant camps, horses and donkeys are often kept in high concentrations for work or to be traded/sold. He witnessed firsthand the very difficult conditions under which these animals are often kept or transported, and interacted with local people to learn about both their veterinary and humanitarian needs.
The team also ventured to the Nowzad Donkey Sanctuary on the outskirts of Kabul - a refuge for abused and neglected donkeys, and the only such facility of its kind in the country. These gentle and very hard-working animals play a crucial role in Afghan society, providing transportation and labour. Dr Lach gave staff great ideas and advice on enrichment and welfare, and signed all the animals off with a very clean bill of health.
Overseeing surgeries and providing detailed hands on training to ensure the correct use of our portable ultra-sound machine, Dr Lachlan's visit to Afghanistan was a testament to the power of veterinary medicine to make a positive impact on the lives of animals and their communities. Knowledge and expertise is critical to ensure the animals Nowzad vets treat have access to proper care and attention. Our teams are determined to continue this legacy so thank you from all of us Dr Lach until the next time!