Page 18 - April-June 2024 Edition

(VetConekt vets ECO-HEALTH SUPPORT:
perform free spay Then Meg and Sue were introduced to the
and neuter at concept of "One Health", which
Uniquely Paws encapsulates the recognition that the health
sponsored Kawaala of humans, animals, and ecosystems is
Free Community interlinked. An eco-health approach
Clinic February 2024: acknowledges that a disturbance in one
Photo courtesy of element of this triad ripples through the
Meg Jaquay) others. So, in January 2024, in partnership
with KCCA District Veterinary Office (DVO),
But raising money to just sponsor these Uganda Small Animal Practitioners Alliance
clinics was not enough of a program to (USAPA), VetConekt, Uganda Animal Welfare
attract funding. It needed more community Coalition (UAWC), and Makerere Veterinary
involvement so that it was more of a Circular College, Uniquely Paws formed a new team
Economy model…all inputs are sold and under a program called Uganda Rabies
the profits go back into the community. So Eradication and Animal Welfare Initiative. The
Meg, managing Southside Farmers Markets critical roles this coalition now plays is
Craft Popup markets for several years knew two-fold: stop the mass poisoning of our
of very many craft groups, many of them roaming dogs by holding free spay and
women artisans, so they decided to engage neuter clinics; and provide free rabies
these women to make animal-themed vaccination services to all community dogs
items for sale. It all started with a quilling and cats towards the Rabies Free 2030
ornament, to now Uniquely Paws has over Initiative in Uganda, in conjunction with
100 different products for sale. Sue, who is Global Alliance for Rabies Control (GARC)
based in the USA, takes many of the items to rabies free worldwide initiative.
craft markets around the Northeast and Mid
Atlantic states and the proceeds are sent
back to Uganda to sponsor the free
community clinics. And Meg has them for
sale at her office in Kawempe, or at the
various craft markets held around Kampala
throughout the year.
And the Uniquely Paws tag line was created:
WOMEN ARTISANS SUPPORTING ANIMALS IN
NEED FOR THE SAKE OF PUBLIC HEALTH

(Alex Ochieng from USPCA, Sue Williams
from Uniquely Paws and Dr. Kassim from
VetConekt at a Uniquely Paws sponsored
clinic in 2023: Unknown Photographer)
HEALTHY PETS & AWARENESS IN CHILDREN:
Taking awareness to the next level is the
education component of the Uniquely Paws
program. Our cherished companions, dogs
and cats, serve as sentinels for potential
(The abstract dog-face quilling ornament public health threats. Regular veterinary
being produced by Beauty for Ashes, Jinja: care, responsible pet ownership, and disease
Photo, courtesy of Meg Jaquay) surveillance within domesticated animals

16