Just as the economy across the country had suffered from the hard lockdown, TOKA has not escaped unscathed. As everyone had to fight for their own survival, field activities with TOKA employees were rare.
Therefore, we are more than happy to report that all employees are now back. And what says more about our achievements than the welcome in Antonie during our project visit in November 2022:
"Dr. I have to thank you! PUC has made me a big man! I am now accepted in the community, the skills I learned with your support are requested by the farmers, my work as an animal health worker is needed and I earn my own money, so I can send my children to school.
Thank you PUC!"
These spontaneous words of thanks moved us and encourage us to continue with our efforts to improve animal health in the community!
With some sadness we had to move from our shop to smaller premises nearby. The financial bottlenecks of the past 2 years meant that the rent for the shop in the main street became unaffordable.
No longer being in the ‘front row’ made it a little harder for the farmers to accept and find us.
With combined efforts and new energy, we are now ready to resume our activities.
Together we carried out essential treatments on a large well-managed farm - a good opportunity to pass on the experience of the older colleagues to the younger ones and to strengthen their
professional competence in the team.
The grateful farmers then invited us to a sumptuous and delicious lunch, which we used to discuss the future plans for TOKA.
Once again, a "Rabies Day" was organised by VsF Germany (Veterinarians Without Borders Germany e. V.) in Tororo, which also included a castration campaign. The expertise of the TOKA employees
caused admiration and astonishment; some of which exceeded even the practical experience of the graduates of the Makerere University of Veterinary Medicine. Our training has paid off! And the
equipment that we were able to bring to Uganda thanks to PUC's supporters helps the animal health workers to put their good technical knowledge into practice.
A big Thank you to all the helpers of our organisation!
Christine Montag
puc.leben@gmail.com