In a world where health is increasingly viewed through a single lens the “One Health” approach the well-being of animals is no longer a footnote; it is the headline. At the forefront of this movement is Ceva, a global veterinary giant that has moved far beyond just selling medicines.
Ceva’s philosophy, “Together, beyond animal health,” is perhaps nowhere more visible than in its deep-rooted investment in Africa. For Ceva, Africa isn’t just a market; it’s a mission. From tackling sleeping sickness inUganda to revolutionizing poultry farming through the PREVENT project, Ceva is proving that when you protect animals, you protect people and their livelihoods.
One of Ceva’s most heart-warming global stories is its support for StreetVet, a UK-based charity that provides free veterinary care to the pets of people experiencing homelessness. In a recent moving example, Ceva’s donation helped monitor and treat a cat named Tiny for feline hypertension. For an owner living on the streets, that pet is often their only source of unconditional love and security.
While StreetVet began in the UK, its spirit is incredibly relevant to the African context. In many African communities, the bond between humans and animals is intense, yet access to professional veterinary care is often a luxury. Imagine the impact if we brought that same StreetVet energy to our local hubs ensuring that the companion dogs guarding our homes or the community cats in our neighborhoods have access to basic checkups and vaccines.
The African Reality
In Africa, poor animal health costs the continent an estimated $9 billion annually. Whether it’s a small-scale farmer losing his flock to Newcastle disease or a family pet suffering from preventable parasites, the stakes are high.
The challenge isn’t just the lack of medicine; it’s the lack of early detection. We often wait until an animal is visibly suffering before seeking help. Ceva is working to change this narrative by emphasizing:
- Regular Checkups: Prevention is always cheaper and more effective than a cure.
- Observable Clinical Signs: Educating owners to spot the subtle signs a change in appetite or lethargy before a condition becomes critical.
- Early Intervention: Through the PREVENT project, Ceva and GALVmed have helped vaccinate over 182 million chicks across 11 sub-Saharan countries, stopping disease before it even enters the coop.
The impact of Ceva’s work in Africa is best seen through the eyes of people like Moses, a poultry farmer whose business was transformed by access to high-quality, vaccinated chicks. By partnering with local hatcheries and providing technical training to field technicians, Ceva isn’t just handing out bottles of medicine; they are building a sustainable ecosystem of health.
In West Africa, Ceva even supports elite detection dogs used to protect endangered wildlife. By keeping these “four-legged rangers” healthy, they are indirectly protecting the continent’s biodiversity and tourism industry.
Animal health is the silent engine of African prosperity. It fuels our food security, safeguards our public health against zoonotic diseases, and provides companionship in our growing cities. Together, we can ensure that every “Tiny” on the continent from the streets of Cameroon to the farms of Uganda gets the chance to thrive. Because when they are healthy, we are all stronger.
