FUNDA NENJA VET SHORTLISTED FOR AWARD
Funda Nenja’s volunteer vet, Dr Daniela Stekler, has been shortlisted in the vaccination champion category of the World Rabies Day Awards, hosted by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control.
Steckler, who practices at Midlands Veterinary Hospital in Howick, runs a weekly primary veterinary clinic for the NPO, which works with children and their dogs in Mpophomeni.
Funda Nenja, which was founded in 2009, is a one welfare organisation, which offers animal welfare, educational and social welfare programmes serving the community.
The Friday afternoon clinic is the
only available veterinary service in Mpophomeni. It provides a free service to dog owners with special emphasis on rabies and sterilisation, but the vet also attends to minor ailments and offers deworming and 5-in-1 vaccinations.
When logistics permit, Funda Nenja also hold rabies clinics in the surrounding areas for people who can’t access the weekly clinic.
“Funda Nenja is well aware of the danger of rabies to both humans and animals, especially in Kwazulu-natal where we are at high risk,” said general manager, Adrienne Olivier.
“We committed from the start to do our part in helping to eliminate this deadly disease as well as educating the local population.”
Last year 93 dogs were sterilised and 1 520 were vaccinated against rabies.
“Since the inception of our programmes, Mpophomeni has been rabies free,” said Olivier.
“The dog population is generally healthy, well socialised and well cared for thanks to our educational programme. The local community have readily accepted us and seek us out when a need arises.”
In addition to doing vaccination work to combat rabies the clinics provided by Steckler have seen a total of 1 006 dogs dewormed, 213 5-in1- vaccinations being administered and 130 dogs treated for ticks and fleas. In total 1 480 dogs attended the vet clinics.
“The local municipality of umngeni has endorsed our work by recently giving us a grant of R10 000 and we are currently negotiating with them to use the Mpophomeni Sports Stadium as our new venue,” said Olivier.
“In addition, one of the local councillors regularly approaches us to assist with rabies clinics in outlying areas. The broader community of the KZN Midlands is very supportive of our organisation in terms of financial support, as well as volunteering for us.”
In a statement, the Global Alliance for Rabies Control praised the nominees for their invaluable work.
“Our panel of expert judges from around the world have dedicated their time to working through each and every nomination to help us with the extremely difficult task of selecting a shortlist for you to vote on,” the organisation added.
“As is the case every year, the task was extremely difficult, considering the fantastic work that is being done all around the world. However, this year seemed particularly challenging as the standards continue to increase.”
The winners being revealed on November 3.