Page 24 - Chiron Autumn/Winter 2023

Ex HARAKA SERPENT (24th June – 26th July 2023)
(a.k.a. It was an Exercise, honest)
by LCpl Jemima Riley RVN
In June of this year, 3rd Battalion Parachute Regiment deployed to Kenya for Ex HARAKA STORM,
taking with them five MWDs and eight dog handlers. Running off
the back of this was Ex HARAKA SERPENT, a community engagement outreach by 16 Medical Regiment who, feeling generous, invited Lt Kirlew (veterinary officer) and myself (veterinary nurse) to join
in. While our first priority was to provide veterinary care to the MWDs deployed in Kenya, we hoped to be able to spend some time engaging with the local veterinary community.
We really wanted to see or treat some rhinos.
With our original flight cancelled, things were off to a bad start. However, after waiting (mostly) patiently for almost two weeks, we were on a plane (Qatar Airways, highly recommend) and ready to join those lucky enough to have caught an earlier flight.
One of the first things we
were able to do (in between acclimatisation, sorting vehicles and various briefs) was deliver some veterinary lessons, with the help from dog handlers and other
members of the HARAKA SERPENT team. While we really only covered basics – restraint and manipulation, vital signs, injection sites and venous access points – the mix of medical and non-medical staff were genuinely interested and engaged. It probably didn’t hurt that we’d brought the dogs.
During our second week in
Kenya, we spent three days with North Kenya Veterinary Services (NKVS). They’ve historically treated our MWDs and helped with their export paperwork, so it was great
to be able to engage with them
and get a look at how veterinary practices run in Kenya. While they’re admittedly in a better position than most in terms of what equipment they have, one of the main issues they face is access to certain medications and consumables that are commonplace here in the UK. For example, they wanted to place
a feeding tube in a dog that wasn’t eating, only they couldn’t source any. And because they struggle getting
hold of anaesthetic gas, they save it for longer, more complicated surgeries and use total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) for anything shorter or routine.
In terms of caseload, there were two things they saw quite regularly that we don’t get in the UK – tick- fever and snake bites. We saw both in just the three days we were with them, as well as a Jack Russell Terrier with a tracheal tear and subcutaneous emphysema (air under the skin). This was the result of a dog fight, not the geography, but it was a pretty interesting case nonetheless and doing well, last we heard.
We finished off our time with the NKVS going on a home visit to deliver vaccinations and wormers to one of their regular clients.
But this was no ordinary home visit. This family lived on Ol Pejata, a 140-square-mile wildlife conservancy that happens to be home to the largest population of black rhinos in East Africa and the
22 / Chiron Calling