The Dharamsala veterinary clinic.
Info/update September 2006.

The project:
The idea of this project has come from Mogens Hansen, a Danish veterinarian who has organized several veterinary projects in Asia and India in collaboration with several other Danish veterinarians. The first was in 2001 in India, and after that there have been several projects in both India and Thailand.

The main purpose for these ABC-projects has been for both neutering and rabies vaccinations of street dogs. The projects have been very successful in most places, and have shown to be of vital significance for the health of the inhabitants of the area. Mogens has carried out two projects in Dharamsala in the northern part of India. At both occasions, the Tibetan society was very enthusiastic and pleased with the outcome: No rabies and significantly lower incidence of severe dog bites. Along with Gunver Juul from Tibet Charity (a Danish charity organisation, supporting Tibetan culture, social life and health.) he had the idea of establishing regular veterinary clinics in India.

The plan is to establish clinics that can carry out both small animal and large animal practice. In the small animal area, neutering and rabies vaccinations of street dogs will be one of the main tasks. In the large animal field, we’ll have to deal with tuberculosis, which of course is severe because it is zoonotic. Lots of cattle, goats, working horses and donkeys need veterinary aid in the rural districts, and we hope that it will be possible for us to establish mobile units that can practice in the field. This is of vital importance because these infections play a major role in human health, especially the health of children.

It is in every way a pilot project that has to be carried out under conditions that differ completely from western ways of doing things, and under conditions that may be difficult. In India every thing takes time, and small problems that in our world are easily dealt with, may in India be almost impossible to solve.

That’s why patience and time are keywords for working there!

The Clinic:
Setting up the clinic is so far ahead, that the first is planned to open in early October in Dharamsala in the northern part of India.

First it will be a provisional clinic in the same building that accommodates Tibet Charity’s administration and the human clinic that’s run by the foundation. Later it will move to a house that Tibet Charity has rented. This house is situated between Lower Dharamsala and Upper Dharamsala. Previously this house has been used as guest house and at the moment it is used by TCV (Tibetan Children’s Village). TCV is an organisation that houses and teaches refugee orphans. We do not know yet when the move will happen, but hopefully it will take place during the winter.

As a volunteer you will therefore be an absolute pioneer: You won’t just enter a completely equipped clinic ready to work in, but you may have to join building it up from scratch! This autumns building activities will be dominated by installing fixtures and fittings, painting the walls, fixing the rooms etc.

There may be contacts/talks with local authorities. They have already received information about the project and have responded very positively (even still very “Indian” in attitude…) and it is very important to maintain this good relationship. Finally we have to inform the local community about the clinic. This task is probably easily solved. It is a rather small community, and news spreads quickly as everyone knows each other and does a lot of talking!

The volunteers:
We need vets and vet nurses. T is also possible for vet students to participate. We are working closely together with Tibet Charity about this project and therefore it might be possible for partners/boyfriends/girlfriends to do some humanitarian work for the organization.

Experience is not compulsory, but to perform surgery without supervision, a minimum of one year’s surgical experience is required.

Economy and financial matters:
Everyone involved in this project is working on a 100 percent voluntary and non-paid, non-profit basis.

The economics of this project depend completely on donations and gifts, therefore our finances to buy equipment and utensils are very limited. For this reason we are very pleased to accept donations in kind of for example surgical kits, or other equipment. We hope in this way, that over time the clinic will be supplied with the equipment needed. If you know of anybody having an excess of old, but still usable equipment, we are most grateful to receive it.

We have been donated a lot of medicine and utensils by Jørgen Kruuse A/S, (a big Danish vet-supplying company), and we sincerely hope that al this will get safely to Dharamsala without being picked up by corrupt customs officers!

The local administration offers a small amount for every neutered dog, but this is far from enough to cover the expenses.

Several international animal welfare-foundations may support these kinds of activities, e.g. The Brigitte Bardot Foundation and Blue Cross in India. It is our profound hope that the clinic will be well established and well run, because it may release even larger donations.

All expenses for travelling, visa, vaccinations, accommodation and food during the stay, must be covered by the volunteers, at least until further notice. It is our hope that in time we will be able to cover some of the expenses. Unfortunately we can’t pay any salary for your efforts. Staying in Dharamsala is cheap, approx. 90-180 dkr/night in a hotel, and approx. 35 dkr/night in a private room. Prizes in India are extremely low compared to western standards, and it means that your expenses eating and drinking will be almost ridiculously small, and there are plenty of fantastic Indian and Tibetan restaurants nearby to tempt your taste buds.

Travelling:
You must book your flight tickets yourself.

Visa must be applied for at the Indian embassy. Apply for a tourist visa; anything else will cause you too much trouble.

Insurance:
You may need a traveller’s health insurance. The tourist version is probably the cheapest but choose yourself.

Flight prizes:
Copenhagen-Delhi and back is approx. 6.000 dkr. (Economy fare). You may have a discount with Australian Airlines, if you tell them that you are going to do humanitarian work for Tibet Charity.

By request we can arrange transfer from Delhi to Dharamsala. We have a local contact in Delhi. His name is Tenzin Kunkhen; he is Tibetan and is a very nice and reliable travel agent. mahayana@sify.com He’ll pick you up in the airport and take you to a nice hotel in the Tibetan area of Delhi. You’ll need one night stop-over in Delhi, but you’re of course free to stay several nights.

Tenzin will go with you by train and jeep to Dharamsala, where the local representative from the Tibet Charity will welcome you and help you finding an accommodation.

Transfer Delhi/Dharamsala and back is app. 600 dkr.

Vaccinations:
Hepatitis A and B, diphtheria, tetanus and rabies as a minimum. Don’t go without rabies vaccinations even they are rather expensive!

About Dharamsala:
Dharamsala is situated north of Delhi, in the province of Himichal Pradesh. It has approx. 20.000 inhabitants, including 5000 exile Tibetans. The city is the home of the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan exile government. Dharamsala is split in two: Upper Dharamsala, exclusively Indian, and Lower Dharamsala, that primarily is Tibetan. The whole area is amazing and breathtakingly beautiful, and there is an abundance of fantastic trekking possibilities.

The area is considered to be safe; it is NOT influenced by riots and unrest as is for example the province of Kashmir. The area is NOT therefore included in the list of insecure areas in India. Check the homepage of Danish foreign ministry www.um.dk, or www.fco.gov.uk .

Want to join?
To date we have received many enquiries, and most of them for winter and autumn 2007.

Due to the provisional facilities, we have to put up limitations on the numbers of volunteers participating at the same time. Two vets, and 2-4 vetnurses/vetstudents at the same time are maximum. We hope that you can be flexible which will facilitate the smooth running and planning of the project.

When you are certain about whether or not you will be able to participate in the project, please let us know ASAP.

We will try to co-ordinate so you can have travel mates if you want to.

For your own benefit as well as for the benefit of the project, we ask you to stay minimum 3 weeks.

We know from previous projects, that it takes time to adjust oneself to the completely different conditions. Three weeks will give you time to the adjustment, and enable you to perform your work with a feeling of energy.

So finally:
If you really want to make a difference, in a world where so many people seems not to care, but where the need is urgent, this is your chance!

It is hard and takes effort. It will challenge your tolerance, resilience and interpersonal skills! But in return you’ll have the most rewarding and unforgettable adventure imaginable. The experience of a lifetime!

If you need more information, please contact: karenh@mail.tele.dk

Best wishes

Mogens Hansen and Karen Hoermann