Gambia
College / University of The Gambia Animal Welfare Advocates recently held a
three-day training on animal welfare at Wellingara horticulture centre.
The
training was to equip the participants with the technical capacity and
communications skills necessary for animal welfare advocacy in The Gambia.
Coordinator
of the association, Abdou Manneh, said the training was made possible thanks to
funding from the Gambia Horse and Donkey Trust.
The
forum covered topics such as introduction to the five freedoms of animal
welfare, welfare assessments, welfare of equines and pets, and the
interrelationship between disease and animal welfare.
The
capacity building also included message development for animal welfare as well
as rabies control and prevention.
Mr
Manneh said the overall objective of the workshop is to build the capacity of
students on animal welfare in order to enhance their participation in animal
welfare advocacy.
The
training was organised to enhance the knowledge of Gambia College / University
of The Gambia Animal Welfare Advocates prior to the commemoration of World
Animal Day, 4 October.
The
association is working in close collaboration with Gambia Horse and Donkey
Trust and Vets United Gambia Project to celebrate this year’s World Animal Day.
The
objective of the proposed celebration is to raise awareness on animal welfare,
improve animal welfare practice at national level, reduce undue animal
suffering and raise the status of animals.
The
programme is expected to target the general population, particular the school
children to consolidate partnership for animal welfare at national and
international levels.
The
association is to also organise school visits and conduct community radio
sensitisation programmes in local languages targeting the general population.
The
Gambia College / UTG Animal Welfare Advocates was formed in February 2016 by
students of the Gambia College and UTG.
It followed a training on animal welfare held at Gambia Horse and Donkey
Centre at Sambel Kunda in January 2016 organised by WTG Vets United and Gambia
Horse and Donkey Trust.
The
aim of association is to create awareness on animal welfare and good management
practices especially for small ruminants.
With
technical support from WTG Vets United Gambia Project, and the Gambia Horse and
Donkey Trust, the association had “successfully organised” a seminar on animal
welfare in May 2016 at the Gambia College Brikama Campus.
