News - World Veterinary Association

26 Jul 2024

WVA Animal Welfare Working Group and WAVMA publish an updated Position Statement

The Working Group on Animal Welfare has worked together with the World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association (WAVMA) to update the existing Position Statement on the Role of Veterinarians in Aquatic Animal Health. The WVA and WAVMA urge their members to engage with authorities and statutory bodies to improve the regulation of the practice of veterinary medicine in the field of aquatic animals; restricting such practice to licensed/registered veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals who work under the supervision of veterinarians.

18 Jul 2024

WVA in-person Council meeting in The Hague, The Netherlands

The WVA Council 2024-2026 met in-person in The Hague, The Netherlands, on 11-12th of July. This was a highly anticipated moment of unboarding for the new members of Council and an important meeting that covered multiple business decisions handled by the executive group of the WVA! The first day of the meeting started with the President's update and the Secretariat's update following the actual onboarding which went over the Constitutional responsibilities of the Councillors, the processes of decision making, how operations are handled, the break down of funding types and a summary of the WVA history.

2 Jul 2024

AVMA Convention in Austin, Texas, USA, welcomes over 7300 participants and the WVA

Over 7,300 participants made their way to the “Live Music Capital of the World.” to join the AVMA Convention of 2024, between 21st and 25th of June. WVA President Dr John de Jong and WVA's Executive Manager Magda Lourenço were invited to the AVMA House of Delegates, among a total of 11 international entities there represented.

28 Jun 2024

CVMA Annual Convention puts spotlight on Animal Sentience

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

Meet the WVA/MSD 2023 Scholarship winners!

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

WVA was at WOAH 91st GS and 100th Anniversary

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

WHO’s WHA77 gathers all health partners in Geneva

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

European Association of Establishments for Veterinary Education host their General Assembly in Paris

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

WVA President at the AMR hearing at the United Nations

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

10th WVA Global One Health Summit

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.