28 Jun 2024
The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) explored the importance and challenges of animal sentience as well as the legal status of animals as sentient beings during its Annual Convention in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The Summit, Animal Sentience: What Does It Mean, Why Is It Difficult to Define, and What Effect May It Have on the Veterinary Profession? examined the evolving recognition of sentience in animals.
18 Jun 2024
In the 7th year of the WVA/MSD Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship Program, WVA received a record number of over 600 applications, showing how important and well sought this programme is. The 80 veterinary students selected to receive a scholarship of 2,500 US Dollars are from 43 different countries from the regions of Asia and Oceania, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.
7 Jun 2024
From May 26th to 30th, the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH – founded as OIE), held its 91st General Session (GS), celebrated 100 years in an event that saw over 1.100 participants, including representatives from 183 WOAH members and several partner organisations that, like WVA, are in official relations with WOAH. Elections were held in person and several standard setting resolutions approved. Dr Mark Shipp, the new WVA Councillor for Asia and Oceania, and Past President of WOAH Council was awarded with WOAH’s Gold Medal.
4 Jun 2024
The 77th World Health Assembly (WHA77) was held from May 27th to June 1st in Geneva, and covered topics of global health security, universal health coverage, and sustainable financing. In his speech, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, recognised that outbreaks, disasters, conflicts, and climate change are causing death, disability, hunger, and psychological distress worldwide. The WVA participated in the WHA77 and had the chance to meet with its focal point, Dr Bernadette Abela-Rider, Team Leader Neglected Zoonotic Diseases, with colleagues from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and from the AMR Multistakeholder Partnership.
3 Jun 2024
Dr John de Jong, WVA President, was graciously received by Drs Stephane Martinot and Pierre Lekeux at the veterinary school in Maisons-Alfort, the second oldest in France, following Lyon, and founded in 1765! He had the opportunity to speak about WVA's continued work on veterinary education as well as accreditation, continuing education, and licensure and strengthening the entire veterinary teams.
16 May 2024
United Nations members, key specialists and stakeholders, among which the WVA, gathered in New York for a hearing on Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). Participants engaged in insightful discussions, exchanging views on key priorities and challenges regarding AMR containment plans at national, regional, and global levels. The hearing was held in preparation for the upcoming high-level meeting on AMR to happen in September, along with the United Nations’s General Assembly, and of the adoption of a new Declaration on AMR which will secure political engagement to address this worldwide emergency.
3 May 2024
The 10th WVA Global One Health Summit, themed "Coordinated & sustainable actions to contain AMR," held during the 39th WVAC in Cape Town, South Africa, gathered key stakeholders including the tripartite, OHLEP, industry representatives, farmers, and IVSA students to address antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and mobilize stakeholders. The Summit emphasized the essential role of the animal health sector in responding to animal diseases while recognizing concerns about non-veterinary medical use of antimicrobials.
25 Apr 2024
The WVA Council chose the WVD 2024 topic to highlight that veterinarians’ competencies must be regarded as an essential and integral part of health at large. The application of veterinary science contributes not only to animal health and well-being but also to humans physical, mental and social well-being and to environmental sustainability. We want to make visible the areas of the veterinarians’ work that often remain invisible to the society and the individuals that do them. We also want to invite all veterinarians to show who they are by taking part in the ‘Of Course’ Campaign’.
18 Apr 2024
The World Veterinary Association (WVA) and Ceva Santé Animale (Ceva) are pleased to announce the winner of Veterinary of the Year 2024 of the WVA Global Veterinary Awards, as Dr. Simon Doherty, based in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The WVA Global Veterinary Awards are an evolution from the previous WVA Animal Welfare Awards, which were extended to include all 4 WVA’s areas of work – Animal Welfare, One Health, Medicine Stewardship and Veterinary Education – and to also recognise the Vet student of the year. Having won the prize for One Health, each of the WVA Working Groups Chairpersons voted for an overall winner, with Dr. Simon Doherty coming out as the winner. The announcement was made on stage at a glittering ceremony as part as part of the 39th World Veterinary Association Congress in Cape Town, South Africa.
Demand for ejiao is increasing, leading to global trade and poaching of donkeys. Almost 6 million skins currently being harvested annually to be used to produce collagen for a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), called eijiao. The rampant killing of donkeys for the skin trade leads to the impoverishment of local communities, loss of opportunities for women, and impairs access to education for children, water provision and agricultural sustainability. The global donkey population stands at~53.4million. The donkey population in China alone has decreased from ~11 million in 1992 to just under 2 million in 2020 (FAOSTAT, 2021).
