VetTrek - Day 4

Thursday December 2, 2010

¡Hace frío!

¡It's cold!

This Havana morning could very well have been around 10C.

After a morning walk through Old Havana we arrived at the Society for Heritage, Community and the Environment (SPCMA) Sociedad Patrimonio, Comunidad y Medio Ambiente.

SPCMA is a Cuban NGO that concerns itself with “the preservation, rehabilitation, management, development and promotion of the historical, architectural and cultural heritage of the City of Havana, and in the community and environmental issues that affect the City.”

Photo:Michael Belovich
The SPCMA is located in the heart of Habana Vieja.
Space is available for meetings and art installations that promote the NGO's objectives.

Dr. Fernando Gispert opened with a presentation of the work being done by Comisión Nacional de Bienestar Animal lead by Dra. María Gloria Vidal Rivalta

Dra.Vidal also hosts a television show focusing on animal welfare.

The next presentation was the one I was looking forward to.
Comisión de Esterilización

A collective of volunteers working together with the Veterinary Clinic in Old Havana to
carry out free sterilizations each quarter.
The objective is to lessening the number of strays in the streets and therefore reducing disease among animals and humans alike.

This is done with the support of the “Popular Council” and their access to media to promote the work.
The neigbourhood CDRs (Committee for the Defense of the Revolution) identify strays for participation.

From the intake of a stray from the street
- through nursing back to health
- sterilization
- post operative care
the process takes over 90 days.

In the two years this program has been running, 208 animal have gone through the process. They are enjoying a 100% placement rate into new homes for these former strays. This program has reduced the number of strays wandering the streets and increased the health of many more.

It was great to see members of the Comisión de Esterilización in attendance
with their latest placements.
Not long ago they were strays on the streets of La Habana Vieja.

The Spanky Project delivered anesthetic and supplies for 100 spay /neuters in support of this program in Old Havana. I look forward to seeing this project spread to surrounding barrios.

Professor Natan Vera Rodríguez
of the Agrarian University of Havana gave a presentation on the
lateral flank approach for ovariohysterectomy.
The majority of Cuban veterinarians use this small incision procedure over the North American preferred mid-line spay.
This theoretical presentation was a step towards a practical application by our Canadian veterinarians the following day.
Natan and Dr. Carlos Yrurzun presented a case study involving "external fixation" on the broken jaw of a horse.

Dr.Belovich was called upon for a consultation.
At this moment, with a light being shone up his butt this guy
may have wished he was back in the street.
The tentative diagnosis for the dog was anal gland adenoma.The Spanky Project's Cuban front line of Susana Hurlich and Gladys Morales posed with
Agrarian University Profesores Pavel Herrera Vera and Natan.

After our morning event it was time to collect the supplies we had brought from Canada.
We offered to assist Dr.Gispert and Dra. Guadalupe Ramos-Directora Municipal de Veterinaria de la Habana Viejain in transporting them to the Laika Clinic for a mass sterilization event on Friday.

But first.... time for lunch

photo:Michael Belovich
Some will tell you that "the food in Cuba is horrible".
Well, not true.
Taberna de la Muralla on Plaza Viaja is a micro-brewery that serves up tasty well priced offerings from the grill.
Once we completed lunch we moved across the square to ...
Café El Escorial
Some of the best coffee based infusions in the city can be found here on Plaza Vieja.

Photo:Michael Belovich
Considering the amount of supplies, it was decided that carrying the bags across
Old Havana was not an option.
So,we flagged down a couple of Bici Taxis and load up Gispert and Guadelope.


Photo:Michael Belovich
We would meet up with them the next day, along with other members of the
Comisión de Esterilización.

We capped off our day with friends and dinner in Barrio Chino.
Yes, Havana has a Chinatown.

VetTrek - Day 3

Wednesday December 1, 2010

This was another busy day.

We arrived for a historic event in a 1946 Ford and were warmly greeted by
Dr. Carlos Yrurzun Estrada
of the Universidad Agraria de la Habana

Assembled on this morning, at the Consejo Cientifico Veterinario de Cuba, were Cuban and Canadian Veterinarians. We were here to partake in the first Cuba - Canada Veterinarians Day.
This is the first time Canadian Veterinarians have been invite to speak before this century old institution.

My deepest appreciation goes to the Canadian Government for recognizing this event.
I was my pleasure to deliver greetings from the
Canadian Minister of Agriculture, Gerry Ritz.

As Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food for Canada, I am pleased to learn of the first Cuba–Canada Veterinary Day. Our two countries have a strong and long-standing tradition of co-operation and trade in animals and animal products. I was particularly interested to learn that animal welfare is a key theme. As a former producer and breeder myself, I share a concern for the welfare of animals, and I believe that animals should be protected from unnecessary suffering. Delegates may be interested to learn that Canada has developed several unique approaches to addressing animal welfare. The combination of regulatory measures and collaborative non-regulatory measures can be beneficial to advancing animal welfare. I invite all delegates to review the work of Canada’s National Farmed Animal Care Council and of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the federal regulatory authority for animal health and welfare.

Also, my local Federal representative sent his greetings.

Greetings Everyone! Please accept my most sincere congratulations as you celebrate the first Cuba - Canada Veterinarians Day. On this important occasion it is only fitting to take time to recognize the efforts of all the members and volunteers who have made this day possible. The had work and dedication that goes into bringing projects like these to fruition are a tremendous accomplishment, one in which you should be very proud. The benefits of sharing valuable resources and information focusing on a common goal will not only benefit animal welfare, pet protection and the protection of the environment but our Countries as a whole. Congratulations on your efforts so far, and continued success in the days to come. Sincerely, Daryl Kramp, M.P. Prince Edward - Hastings

We had a full to overflow crowd for this First Cuba-Canada Veterinarians Day.

Dr. Belovich began with a presentation on "Pain Protocols for Cats".
Gladys Morales, the Spanky Project's representative in Cuba, provided the Spanish translations.

Dr. Belovich and Dr.Pallet demonstrated handling techniques for cats and dogs.
Much to the dismay of the cat.
Dr.Travers spoke on the topic of choke.

Her able assistant, Dr.Yrurzun, proved ... you can have fun with a stomach tube.

Part two of the equine presentation covered lameness in horses.
Radiographs were used to present interesting cases.

Dr. Carlos Yrurzun seemed to be a little perplexed by the uniqueness of this "hoof tester".Photo - S.Hulich
Dr.Belovich explained that Cubans are not the only ones that can make something out of nothing.

hoof tester:shaped like a pair of large pincers. One of the blades is placed on apparently normal hoof and the other on the part to be tested. If there is a flinch response when the handles are squeezed this is taken as an indication of pain at one of the pressure sites.


The first Cuba-Canada Veterinarians Days was a pleasure for Cubans and Canadians alike.
The ladies of the Spanky Project were presented with gladiolas and all in attendance received certificates of participation.
Photo - S.Hulich

Dra. Betty Amaro poses with Dr.Gispert and myself.
Dra.Amaro is President of the Consejo Cientifico Veterinario de Cuba.
She is also the wife of the previous President, my dear departed friend,
Dr. Fermin M. Palazuelos Tuset.

At the end of the scheduled program the interchange continued.

Our next stop of the day was Clínica Veterinaria ¨Jose Luis Callejas¨on Calle Carlos III
Located on this site from 1943 –1976 was the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine.
In 1976, the school moved to San Jose de las Lajas.
Today this is the location of Havana’s largest Veterinary Clinic...
.

... which houses a laboratory that receives specimens from clinics around Havana.
¨Jose Luis Callejas¨ is also the only destination for 24 hour clinical care in Havana

Third stop of the day !!
La Quinta de los Molinos is a national monument located in the City of Havana , Cuba . Important for having been the residence of the Captains General during the colonial period, the residence of the hero Maximo Gomez and host to the Havana Botanical Garden and Museum Maximo Gomez .
After a presentation of the rejuvenation project we toured the grounds.


Work in progress ....... Work completed


Like any good botanical garden this location has become a wedding photo backdrop.

Part of the rejuvenation is a avian breeding program.
Juan Finca explains some of the finer points of the program.
Nothing could be finer than the "footwear" on this pretty bird.

Along these paths we came across some dogs that have made Quinta de los Molinos their home.
Gispert told us there are plans to spay/neuter them.
Always at the ready, we did an impromptu deparasitization.
As we came to the end of our tour each of us were handed a bird.
We were a little befuddled by this.
Once we each had a bird in hand and after a few kind words we were told to release the birds in honour of the Spanky Project's visit.



It is wonderful to see the rejuvenation of this urban oasis of green.
The Spanky Project is honoured to be included in this project.
We said goodbye to our new friends with the promise to return and to
collaborate on a program or two.

These will likely include technical and material assistance with the bird breeding program as well as support for the dog population.

Meet Pica ....
We met this little bundle of energy the night before.
She followed us from La Bodeguita de Medio up Calle Obispo to Parque Central before saying goodnight.
On this evening Pica was waiting for us as we exited dinner at Hanoi.
I told Dr.Belovich that if Pica found us on the next night he would have to take her home.