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Dr. Fred Nizeyimana

1 January 2021

2016

INITIAL THOUGHTS

Dr. Freds's thoughts on his MSc (Wildlife Medicine) training and work...

"I enrolled this year together with four others that include my colleagues Drs. Jean Bosco Noheli/ Rwanda and Eddy Syaluha Kambale/ DRCongo. The Gorilla Doctors Capacity building coordinator, Associate Professor John Bosco Nizeyi fondly called Dr. JBN organized with his fellow professors a time-table that caters for our role as full time field veterinarians of mountain gorillas. We study full time for 8 days in a month and work for 20 days. During working time we attend to sick gorillas if any, do routine health monitoring at the same time do our study assignments and reading. The course has opened other doors to knowledge and skills in the area of research, wildlife ecology and management, disease management and social dynamics on a large scale.

Tentative area of research- Antibiotic resistance study in the mountain gorillas, humans and domestic animals with emphasis on microbes isolated during respiratory infections.

I think it's kinda a story of "three gorilla doctors musketeers" in a class of five MSc. students! Our morale is high when we meet up for class for 4-4 days immediately after our routine work. Personally it has been a time of sharing my time on a roughly tough balance between work, break-time and school. I am adjusting well to this new life. It is a dream fulfillment in part.

I am lucky and privileged to be part of this MSc. wildlife health scholarship scheme under Gorilla Doctors partly sponsored by Docs4GreatApes."

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2021

UPDATED THOUGHTS

"I am honored to be among the Gorilla Doctors graduate team, and would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the study scholarship that enabled me to earn MSc in Wildlife Health Management that did enhance my career skills in wildlife conservation.

The MSc has increased my philosophy and disease diagnostics for mountain gorillas and other wild animals—I have participated in giraffe translocation (moving from one area to another) and been involved with the post-mortem (autopsy) of other wild animals since.

The course enabled me to appreciate One-Health practices, antimicrobial resistance and infectious disease management. This has enabled me to attend several workshops and seminars since and make presentations about my research topic “Antimicrobial resistance profiles of bacteria isolated from upper respiratory tract of humans having close contact with mountain gorillas in Bwindi Impenetrable National Park” at the National Antimicrobial Resistance Conference and the African Primatology Society Conference.

This career advancement increased my disease management contribution on the national level. I was part of the select team of ‘animal health experts’ that was recently (September 2020) engaged in reviewing-drafting-harmonizing the Ugandan Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries national animal health/disease surveillance plan.

I am forever grateful for the scholarship contribution which so far has bettered my mountain gorilla health-care and related research, wildlife conservation and management skills."