Why women make great veterinary doctors

I am sharing this on Women’s Day to encourage all the females out there that , ‘it can be done’.

In summary, I joined the veterinary sector in September 1989 as a first year student in Africa Hall, and dully graduated in 1995. I did not leave it there.

I followed up the training by teaching  the subject of veterinary medicine and large ambulatory medicine to veneterinary students until 2015.

I now focus on laboratory related subjects live virology and molecular microbiology and One Health to both Biomedical Laboratory students and M.Sc students.

A woman’s strength

It was difficult being one of only three female students among 37 males at the Vet faculty. Just an example, up to this day this veterinary college does not have designated female restrooms or places of convince! We have to share with males!

We as female studners had to quickly gain confindence to measure up to our male counterparts in class. For example during one of our first practicals in physiological sciences our male counter parts rushed to the front of the class, grabbed the apparatus and equipment and told us to join which ever male groups were available.

Thanks to the Almighty God, our own, now Dr. Joanne Kyozaire Kisaka, calmly walked to the nearest male group of students – grabbed the equipment and told the class – “Now any brave male is free to join a female dominated group for the practicals. In this case we (the girls) will lead and they will follow. The males in the class were dumbfounded.

We were continually put down by fellow students and lecturers until we proved our worth.

In anatomy practicals it was assumed that we could not handle the scaple blade; in surgery it was assumed that we were only to do restraint and mop up the blood, not make incisions or suture; In the large animal clinics it was assumed that we will only do the injections after the males have done the clinical examination, tentative diagnosis and collection of samples.

Often however,  our mentors like Prof Shannon (RIP), Dr P.M Mwambu (RIP), Dr. Azuba Rose, Dr Kasirye Florence, Dr. Nassuna Mria Goretti  would push aside the ambitious male students and priority given to the female students.

We were able to perform!

The same story often played out in the field. Yes, the whole village during  any particular large animal ambulatory case would gather to see if the females could also handle a large bovine species! With the right encouragement form our superior faculty mentors and with the male students doing restraining – we always were able to perform!.

This give us confidence that one did not only have to have strength in the area of veterinary practice, but technique.

Later (1995 – 2001),  as a large animal clinician  on the Faculty Ambulatory clinic much of the farming community in Majango, Kiteezi  and Kasangati got confidence in females as veterinary clinicians, especially when the Makerere Ambulatory car pulled over with a lady in-charge of male students.

On many instances, we as females performed much better than olur male counterparts because of commitment – we went back to check and re-check on our patients (That quality of nurturing be better encoded onto the female DNA as compared to the male DNA).

On the other hand, veterinary students especially males accepted us as mentors and more females felt encouraged to participate in clinical practice

The experience of conquering new paradigm and spheres of influence had changed our outlook as women vets. It makes us more empowered to fight and advocate for what is ours. We feel more confident and empowered to engage in new fields and areas of influence e.g Leadership of the Veterinary profession by Dr. Florence Kasirye, Dr. Syvia Baluka, leadership in Aquaculture at the African Union by Dr. Nelly N. Isiagye; Small Animal clinics by Dr Florence Nsubuga Bwanika (RIP), Dr Julie Naiga (RIP)and Dr. Nakanwagi Berna; One Health by Dr. Irene Naigaiga etc

We  always extrapolate this mentorship experience to our homes and families, our daughters, sons, nieces and nephews to do better wherever they are .

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Dr Peninah (Namatovu) Nsamba

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