CM orders upgrade of veterinary hospitals

Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah on Wednesday directed the Livestock Department to establish at least three indoor veterinary hospitals.

The hospitals will not only treat cattle but also street animals and birds. "We have general Veterinarians and Vet surgeons in government veterinary hospitals, and their services are under-utilised," he said.

Shah directed Secretary Livestock to engage the veterinarians so that the injured street animals can be treated there too. He issued these instructions while presiding over a meeting to review the recovery of the injured camel and the donkey at the Comprehensive Disaster Response Services (CDRS) Centre.

Secretary Fisheries and Livestock Kazim Jatoi, his team of veterinarians and Secretary to CM Raheem Shaikh attended the meeting. The CM said that the Sindh government has veterinarians hospitals all over Sindh. "We must have good indoor facilities for animals, including street animals and birds where they could be provided medical treatment and surgeries," he said.

Shah directed the livestock department to upgrade three Veterinary Hospitals -one at Radio Pakistan Karachi, another in Hyderabad and yet another at Khairpur, which should have indoor facilities.

The CM directed the livestock department to post good practising veterinary doctors, and technicians and provide them with all facilities such as X-ray machines, ultrasound and other facilities. "Our vets must be trained and equipped with necessary facilities," he said.

Secretary Livestock Kazim Jatoi gave a detailed briefing to the chief minister about the injured camel and donkey.

The meeting was informed that a young camel owned by Soomar Yaroo Behan was a victim of cruelty when it entered a crop field in Sanghar.

The local administration filed a criminal case against six suspects and then the camel was moved to CDRS Animal Shelter and TNVR facility Malir, Karachi with the assistance of the Livestock and Fisheries Department.

Clinical findings: The young camel was found with a lower limb chopped off. After opening the wound, it was found that the cut surface was smooth and fully exposed with prominent flesh and bone without any covering of skin or flesh and was not bleeding. The young camel is currently stable with all vital signs and feeds on grasses and some concentrates with fresh water ad libitum.

Brutally beaten donkey

A donkey brutally beaten by its owner namely Mir Hassan Rind, was found in the crop field of the local Landowner Kaka Mirjatt in the vicinity of Cattle colony Sirri, Hyderabad due to its allegedly aggressive behaviour and fight with another donkey owned by the same owner. The ailing donkey was transported to CDRS Animal Shelter and TNVR facility Malir, Karachi, where it is currently treated and cared for. An FIR was registered at the local police station against the donkey's owner.

It was found that the donkey had multiple fractures at hinge joints and lower limbs of both hind legs and bruises on the inner legs, pelvis area and shoulder which were relatively deep to the subdermal level and penetrating muscle layers to bone level. The donkey is relatively stable with all vital signs active but not out of danger.

The CM directed the Secretary of Fisheries & Livestock to ensure proper treatment and care of both the injured animals and keep him posting their progress reports.