VN May 2022

Vetnuus | May 2022 16 An initiative of the SOUTH AFRICAN VETERINARY ASSOCIATION Non-profit Company: 1998/016654/08 Non-profit Organisation: 000-234 NPO Public Benefit Organisation: 130001321 During these last 2 years we all, as humans, felt the pains of the pandemic. Adjusting to new normals and, at times, watching helplessly how we are reminded we are in a world we cannot always control. Frompandemics to wars, there are many things we just have to deal with. Just try to survive. Then comes along another deadly, devastating outbreak of a virus, lurking in our streets. The zombielike, neuron attacking, deadly NEXT thing to worry about. With many humans already dead and many animals infected and spreading this disease at a rapid rate. Public being unaware of this lurkingmonster, almost apathetic towards any warnings heeded by an equally crisis numbed media and social media world...not another drama...our adrenals can’t take any more. Sound like the next bad low budget movie? This sadly is the frustratingly real saga playing out in the Eastern Cape. With Rabies spreading and us seeing one of the worst outbreaks in many years. Resources and manpower in our state departments stretched to their limits. They having to deal with not just Rabies, but FMD and many other obstacles, while they helplessly watch people die. This time we as vets are in a privileged position to be the heroes of this horror movie. We have the power to stop this devastating virus from killing yet another child. Don't you think it will feel great to not have to powerlessly watch while yet another disease ravishes our communities? This timeWE ASVETS andVET NURSES canmake the difference. We have no choice really. We have to be the difference and stop this outbreak. This is why SAVA CVC is leading by example. We have raised our hands and accepted the challenge to do our bit in stopping this crisis. We are changing the script of thismovie, bywalking fromhouse to house in the Nelson Mandela Bay hotspot areas, vaccinating CVC News I CVC Nuus Put on your capes, lets vaccinate! Dr Renee vanOudtshoorn Dr Renee van Oudtshoorn has recentlymoved to Port Elizabeth (Gqeberha) and is the principal veterinarian for Optima CVC. Her work is sponsored with funding obtained fromThe Scheinberg COVID19 Relief Fund applied for andmanaged by SAVA-CVC.