SOUTH SUDAN / PEACEKEEPING VETERINARIAN WOMEN

In Bor, South Sudan, a growing number of women are stepping into roles as community animal health workers. They recieved training from peacekeeping veterinarians serving at the UN mission in the coutry (UNMISS), in partnership with the local university. UNMISS

• Video Length: 00:03:09
• Production Date: 9 April 2026
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN SOUTH SUDAN – UNMISS
• Subject Topical: WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT; PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS
• Geographic Subject: SOUTH SUDAN
• MAMS Id: 3554216
• Parent Id: 3554216
• Alternate Title: unifeed260409e

Description

TITLE: SOUTH SUDAN / PEACEKEEPING VETERINARIAN WOMEN
TRT: 3:09
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: DINKA / ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 09 APRIL 2026, BOR, SOUTH SUDAN / FILE

Shotlist

FILE – BOR, SOUTH SUDAN

1. Various Shots, Cattle, Bor

09 APRIL 2026, BOR, SOUTH SUDAN

2. SOUNDBITE (Dinka) Ajah Jok Mabior, Community Animal Health Worker, John Garang University:
“The training we received is very important to us. We now know how to measure temperatures, clean wounds, and treat cows with problems. We are becoming fully independent. If I face a veterinary issue at home, I can now handle it with ease.”
3. Various Shots, Veterinarians training, Bor
4. SOUNDBITE (Dinka) Ajah Jok Mabior, Community Animal Health Worker, John Garang University:
“We are well trained. We can vaccinate cows, goats, chickens, and even dogs. We are happy because, as women, we can now do this work ourselves. The skills we have gained are making us independent.”
4. Various Shots, Veterinarians training, Bor
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Lieutenant Colonel Harmanjeet Singh Goraya, Peacekeeping veterinarian from India:
“Now, these trained women can treat animals, prevent diseases and educate communities even in remote areas. This improves not only animal health and family income but, at the same time, women gain confidence, respect and become leaders in their communities. Here I must say, that this training is life changing for them as it promotes gender equality, women empowerment, resilience, further it enhances food security and protects their livelihoods. Hence, this helps in building stronger and heathier South Sudan.”

FILE - 22 FEBRUARY 2018 – TEREKEKA, SOUTH SUDAN

6. Various Shots, Veterinarians training, Terekeka

FILE

7. SOUNDBITE (Dinka) Mary Nyijer Majak, Community Animal Health Worker:
“I can confidently call myself a veterinary doctor. People in my community now come to me for veterinary services, and I provide them for a fee. In our households, we can now treat goats, cows, chickens, and dogs.”
8. Various Shots, Veterinarians training, Bor

Storyline

In Bor, cattle are more than livestock. They are a source of pride, wealth, and identity. For generations, cattle keeping has been the domain of South Sudanese men while women are relegated to tasks such as milking, cheese and butter making, and caring for goats and chickens.

But a quiet transformation is taking place with a growing number of women stepping into roles as community animal health workers, after receiving training from peacekeeping veterinarians from India, serving with the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, in partnership with the local university.

SOUNDBITE (Dinka) Ajah Jok Mabior, Community Animal Health Worker, John Garang University:
“The training we received is very important to us. We now know how to measure temperatures, clean wounds, and treat cows with problems. We are becoming fully independent. If I face a veterinary issue at home, I can now handle it with ease.”

The training is not just about developing new skills. It’s about empowerment and providing opportunities for economic independence with the women animal health workers now being hired to provide veterinary services in cattle camps, something that was once unthinkable.

SOUNDBITE (Dinka) Ajah Jok Mabior, Community Animal Health Worker, John Garang University:
“We are well trained. We can vaccinate cows, goats, chickens, and even dogs. We are happy because, as women, we can now do this work ourselves. The skills we have gained are making us independent.”

In a community where livestock diseases can very quickly wipe out entire livelihoods, animal health workers are providing critical. With more trained hands available, animals are treated faster and losses are reduced.

SOUNDBITE (English) Lieutenant Colonel Harmanjeet Singh Goraya, Peacekeeping veterinarian from India:
“Now, these trained women can treat animals, prevent diseases and educate communities even in remote areas. This improves not only animal health and family income but, at the same time, women gain confidence, respect and become leaders in their communities. Here I must say, that this training is life changing for them as it promotes gender equality, women empowerment, resilience, further it enhances food security and protects their livelihoods. Hence, this helps in building stronger and heathier South Sudan.”

Traditionally, cows have been regarded as the domain of men used for bride price, income, and social status. Women are now crossing that boundary, not by replacing men, but by supporting and strengthening the entire system.

SOUNDBITE (Dinka) Mary Nyijer Majak, Community Animal Health Worker:
“I can confidently call myself a veterinary doctor. People in my community now come to me for veterinary services, and I provide them for a fee. In our households, we can now treat goats, cows, chickens, and dogs.”

Challenges remain, including access to veterinary medicines to meet the growing demand for their services. However, these women have proven that with new skills and determination they can overcome any obstacles to build a better future for themselves, their communities, and the country.