Saturday, 24th April, 2010

World Veterinary Day 2009 || World Veterinary Day 2008 || World Veterinary Day 2007 || World Veterinary Day 2006 || World Veterinary Day 2005 || World Veterinary Day 2004

WVA Letter to Vets
How to Get Into the Media
Sample Media Statement

Please submit details of your planned event here

WVA-OIE World Veterinary Day AWARD 2010
World Veterinary Day was first celebrated by the World Veterinary Association in 2001 and is celebrated annually on the last Saturday of April. In 2008 the WVA and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) agreed on the creation of the World Veterinary Day Award aimed at rewarding the most successful celebration of the veterinary profession by national veterinary associations, alone, or in cooperation with any other selected veterinary body.

The 2010 Award will be delivered at the 78th OIE World Assembly to be held in Paris, France on 23-28 May 2010.

The prize: US$ 1,000 will be donated to the winner.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION
National veterinary associations that celebrate World veterinary day alone or in cooperation with others can participate in the competition of being selected WVD award winner of the year by sending in a completed application form (see instructions below).

THEME FOR THE YEAR 2010
One World, One Health: more cooperation between veterinarians and physicians

The much publicised concept "One World, One Health" indicates that the world has awakened to the link between animal diseases and public health.

It has long been known that 60% of known infectious diseases are common to humans and animals (whether domestic or wild); 75% of recent emerging human diseases came from animals and 80% of the pathogens that could potentially be used in bioterrorism are zoonotic. It is also known that human populations need a regular diet of protein particularly from milk, eggs or meat, and that a deficiency can also be a public health problem.

The unprecedented movement of commodities and people between nations provides opportunities for pathogens to spread and multiply. Further, climate change can enable pathogens to extend their range, notably through vectors, such as insects colonising new areas that up until a few years ago were too cold for them to survive the winter.

The only way to minimize the impact of these new hazards is to adapt the existing systems of animal and public health governance at world, regional and national levels in a harmonised and coordinated manner. From the animal health perspective, "One World, One Health" should eventually lead all countries to make a firm commitment to establishing mechanisms for the early detection of disease outbreaks, as well as allowing rapid implementation, by veterinarians, of any required preventive or therapeutic measure directed to animals.

From the human health perspective, "One World, One Health" should induce all countries to adopt a united approach by veterinarians and human physicians for the control of zoonotic diseases, especially with regard to the prevention and post-exposure treatment of these diseases.

The 2010 Award will reward the veterinary association that best publicises the theme by involving all stakeholders in the organisation of events along with all other stakeholders such as the media and the general public.

TOOLKIT FOR APPLICANTS
This could be accomplished via public events organised with support of the media, open days, competitions or any event that creates attention and delivers a message to a large number of people in an interesting, entertaining and stimulating way (using, for example, musical and gastronomic events as a support).
INSTRUCTIONS FOR APPLICATION
The application for the award must include:
- Name of the individual veterinarian representing the veterinary association involved
- Country and e-mail address
- Number of veterinarians members of the applicant association
- The specific audience attending the event and the attendance rate
- Press coverage received
- Number of non veterinarians and veterinarians attracted to the event
- Number of stakeholders involved in the organisation of the event and number of stakeholders attracted to the event
- Proposed actions to be taken as a follow up

SUPPORTING MATERIALS
Copies of posters, stickers, photographs, press releases, TV spots etc.

HOW TO APPLY
Applications should be submitted by 1 May 2010 to the World Veterinary Association: secretariat@worldvet.org