In the patriarchal landscapes of Dolo Ado, where opportunities for women remain scarce and male dominance governs communities’ lifestyles and most professions, Nafisa Mohamed, a veterinary officer in the Woreda, is breaking barriers and rewriting the narrative in a veterinary care profession that has for years seen limited women’s participation. Motivated by the lack of skilled personnel in animal health services across genders, Nafisa has emerged as a trailblazer and is among the few women making significant strides in animal health.
The BORESHA-NABAD project provided Nafisa with tailored training in disease prevention, vaccination, and disease surveillance, empowering her to effectively combat animal diseases while following vaccination protocols and engaging in participatory disease surveillance. This training enhanced her technical skills and positioned her as a champion in promoting gender equality by breaking barriers in male-dominated livelihood sectors.
In a region where livestock is the backbone of livelihoods, Nafisa plays an integral role beyond the technical aspects of veterinary care and embarked on improving livestock health while becoming a beacon of hope for women aspiring to venture into male-dominated spaces.
Since integrating into animal health activities, Nafisa has led vaccination campaigns aimed at controlling transboundary diseases, which are frequent occurrences in borderland areas due to cross-border animal movements. She has also spearheaded outreach programmes to educate local farmers, many of whom had never received veterinary guidance.
“When women step into roles like this, it’s not just about treating animals, but transforming communities and giving families the tools to sustain their livelihoods and build resilience,” she says.
Nafisa Mohamed is part of a larger network of 63 veterinary officers, community animal health workers (CAHWs), community disease reporters (CDRs), and Agrovets trained under the BORESHA NABAD programme as part of the programme’s approach to transform the livestock sector and build market system resilience.
The consortium is adopting a broader shift towards gender inclusivity in the borderlands to reshape perceptions in a setting where women have often been relegated to the periphery of decision-making in animal health. Her integration in the process is part of the holistic approaches deployed to encourage more women to join the animal health field and enhance women’s livestock ownership to improve their economic status and decision-making power within households and communities.