A VETERINARIAN’S LIFE
A Boy, His Cat, and A Lady Doctor
in Africa
A number of years ago I followed my eldest daughter to Uganda where she was working with an NGO in Kampala. My plan had been to lend a hand in any way needed. But using that wonderful new thing, the world wide web, I connected with a woman who was interested in hosting spay/neuter clinics in nearby communities.
So with a hundred pounds of equipment, I made my way to Africa. The cheapest airfare took me from Toronto to New York, Addis Ababa, Nairobi, and my final destination, Entebbe- two days later.
Our first working day was spent in a community about an hour outside of the capital. Along with myself and my daughter was Dr. Berna, a wonderful and skilled Ugandan veterinarian, her assistant, Ibra, and a few students from Makarere University. They had very little opportunity to observe, let alone assist, in small animal surgery so were delighted to be included.
We set up in a schoolroom, using the desks as operating tables which we moved as close as possible to the window openings. There was no electricity, so daylight would have to serve as our surgery lamp.
With the kids out of school, there was a festive mood. People lined up outside holding their dogs on bits of rope, waiting to be registered. Police and Queenie were the most popular names, age and breed were of little importance.
Rabies vaccines and deworming were done by my daughter and Ibra, while the students examined and premedicated the surgical cases. For the most part, it was females to be spayed- the men were horrified at the idea of castrating their male dogs.
Once sedated, intramuscular anesthesia was given and their bellies shaved using a straight razor. The sleeping animals were held outstretched on the table by one of the students, who could then assist as needed.
The open windows were crowded with the faces of curious onlookers, commenting on my technique and occasionally being asked to move out of the way so I could have more light.
I was just placing the final sutures in a dog spay when I felt a tap on my shoulder. A little boy, maybe seven or eight years old was standing at my side. He was holding a burlap sack which he proudly opened to show me his lovely calico kitten.
I’m not sure how he had skipped the long line outside, but a cat spay was a quick procedure. I motioned for Ibra to premed the kitten and have the boy sit at one of the desks while the instruments were washed and the table cleaned.
Five minutes later I went to get my next patient. The young owner had taken his cat out of the bag and lain her on the wooden desk. His face was buried in her fur which was soaked from his weeping.
“ What’s wrong, sweetheart,” I said.
“I didn’t know you were going to kill her!” he cried.
I suppressed a smile and explained she was just sleeping.
He had been taught to respect elders and tried to hide his suspicion. But even as I gently carried his kitten to the operating area his tears continued to flow.
“She’ll be fine”, I assured him and as proof, invited him to stay and watch.
He was very brave and stood close throughout the whole operation. Curiosity soon got the better of him and he started asking questions like: How did I know where to cut? How could I tell the difference between her guts and her womb? How did I know she would wake up? What was snow like?
Classmates, watching in the window, leaned through to offer support and everyone clapped when I placed his newly spayed cat back in his arms. (very much alive)
At the end of the day, exhausted, I sat on the steps of the school. Children crowded around, touching my arms, intrigued by my paleness.
I hadn’t eaten since the morning and shared some candies from my bag — a mistake I was later told as evidenced by the mob that suddenly surrounded me, shouting “Lady Doctor, Lady Doctor”, hands outstretched, asking for a treat.
This was only day one. I had a lot to learn!
© Dr. Jackie Greenwood 2021
Thanks for reading :)
and thanks to ScienceDuuude for giving this story a home!
More of my life as a veterinarian:
