Original version

BBC World Service South Asia

The Conversation

Factual: Life Stories

Two women from different parts of the world share the stories of their lives

Two women from different parts of the world, united by a common passion, experience or expertise, share the stories of their lives.

BBC World Service schedule for American satellite radio and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Americas and the Caribbean

BBC World Service Online

BBC World Service Europe and the Middle East

BBC World Service

BBC World Service East Asia

BBC World Service Australasia

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa Schedule

BBC World Service East and Southern Africa

BBC World Service West and Central Africa Schedule

BBC World Service West and Central Africa

The Conversation: Vets: Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka and Dr Nalinika Obeyesekere

Magazines & Reviews

Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka and Dr Nalinika Obeyesekere

Vets: Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka and Dr Nalinika Obeyesekere

BBC World Service - The Conversation, Vets: Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka and Dr Nalinika Obeyesekere

Leading vets in Uganda and Sri Lanka talk about their love for the profession

How do you get a giraffe to Uganda by plane, and why is it controversial to put an animal out of its suffering in Sri Lanka? Find out from two female vets.

Kim Chakanetsa brings together leading women vets from Uganda and Sri Lanka to talk about their careers and their trickiest challenges.

As a new vet graduate, Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka was made chief veterinary officer of the Ugandan Wildlife Service. She set about restocking her country's national parks with giraffes and lions following years of civil war, but it was the endangered mountain gorillas that really captured Gladys' heart. She now leads her own charity Conservation Through Public Health, which looks after both the health of the gorillas and the people who live near them, who are crucial to their survival. 

Sri Lankan vet Dr Nalinika Obeyesekere prefers to treat smaller creatures such as cats and dogs. Nalinika grew up looking after her parents' adopted animals, everything from fish to a leopard cub! But she soon decided that working with wildlife was not for her, and instead started up her country's first multi-doctor veterinary practice. Nalinika is passionate about improving training and education around animal care, and she uses a portion of her profits to provide free treatment for Colombo's huge stray dog population. 

(Photo: (L) Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka. (R) Dr Nalinika Obeyesekere)

Accessibility links

Programme Index

The Conversation

Vets: Dr Gladys Kalema-Zikusoka and Dr Nalinika Obeyesekere

Genres

Formats

Brand

BBC World Service South Asia

About BBC World Service