World Veterinary Day 2016
Theme - Continuing education with a one health focus

Dr K Rashbehari Singh *

A Free veterinary camp held at Keishampat by Manipur Dog Lovers Club on 24 April 2015 :: Pix - Chingkheinganba L

World Veterinary Association (WVA), in the year 2000, created World Veterinary Day (WVD) as an annual celebration of the veterinary profession, falling on the last Saturday of April. On this occasion the veterinary profession highlights its various contributions to the animal welfare, food safety, and food security, safe world trade in animals and animal products as well as protecting public health.

The WVA (World Veterinary Association) and IOE (World Organization for Animal Health) chose a theme for WVD every year. The chosen theme of the WVD, 2016 is 'Continuing education with a one health focus' and WVD, 2016 will be celebrated on the 30th April, 2016. The WVD Awards is conferred for the most successful contribution on the annual theme by a WVA member association working alone or in cooperation with other veterinary groups. The WVD Award, 2016 will be presented at the Opening Ceremony of the OIE 84th General Session to be held at Paris, France on 22nd May 2016.

The important role of Veterinarians is to care about the health and well- being of animals, people, and the environment we share together because animals affect human health. The emergence and re-emergence of unexpected sanitary events is accelerating in the present era of globalization and it is estimated that five new emerging infectious human diseases appear each year, of which three are zoonotic.

Human deaths due to recent Ebola epidemic as well as too numerous human mortality caused by rabies every year strongly remind us the link existing between the health of the people, animals and environment and there is need for multi-sectoral approaches illustrated through the 'One Health' concept.

The science of Veterinary profession is continuously evolving and changing in this era of globalization and therefore, there is need to educate the Veterinarians continuously to face the challenges we faced due to emergence and re-emergence of diseases of animals and humans. There is also need to collaborate with the human health sector to tackle these challenges.

The integrative effort of multiple disciplines working locally, nationally, and globally to attain optimal health of people, animals, and the environment is the concept of 'One Health'. Veterinarians play critical roles, because of their expertise, regarding the health of animals, humans, and even the environment. However, these important roles are often overlooked and unrecognized. Veterinary is the only profession working at the interface of these three components of One Health.

The concept of One Health is not new and it existed for centuries, from Hypocrites, in his text, 'On Airs, Waters, and Places' (estimated 400 BC). The concept that public health depended on a clean environment was promoted by him.

Other who contributed for the concept of One health are – Giovanni Lancisi, Louis- Rene Villerme, Rudolf Virchow, Louis Pasteur, Robert Koch, Calvin Schwabe etc. Dr. Calvin Schwabe coined the term 'One Medicine' in his book, 'Veterinary Medicine and Human Health'.

Zoonotic diseases such as avian influenza, rabies, brucellosis and bovine spongiform encephalopathy which are transmitted from animals to humans, not only kill people but they also cause tremendous economic harm in a variety of ways, effecting development of the countries where the zoonotic diseases occurred. Approximately 75 per cent of emerging infectious diseases are those transmitted from animals to humans, and the world is on pace to experience at least one deathly disease outbreak each year.

The avian influenza (HPAI H5N1) epidemic that began in Hong Kong in 1997 forced the global community to recognize that animal health and human health are linked. Recent Ebola epidemic and the 2009 H1N1flu pandemic are the stark reminders of the unpredictable nature of pathogens and the importance of animals in the ecology and emergence of viral strains.

We need broad recognition of the interconnectivity among the health of humans, domestic or wild animals and the environment which are closely linked by the pathogens that they share, to attain a true One Health approach. This requires a new political approach, focusing on specific investment in governance, particularly with regard to the allocation of public and private resources.

Some pathogens may not be zoonotic but they have negative impact on the production of animal-derived protein and therefore should not be overlooked. Problems affecting the quality and quantity of food production and its availability can also have serious public health consequences.

To adopt One Health globally, particularly in developing areas, there is need to build capacity of skilled personnel, disease diagnostics and testing laboratories, resource persons for imparting training and technologies that enabled far -reaching and coordinated pathogen reporting and surveillance systems.

A formal alliance has been facilitated, for putting the 'One Health' vision into practice, between the World Health Organization (WHO), the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE).

A joint Concept Note clarifying their reciprocal responsibilities and their objectives in this field have been published by the three organizations. On its part, the OIE is working on animal disease prevention and control methods and on health standards relating to the safety of international trade in animals and animal products, with priority being given to the prevention of diseases transmissible to humans.

Activities that promote health and extend human life can have adverse environmental effects. Food production causes environmental damage from pesticides and fertilizers, soil salinization, waste produce by livestock, carbon emissions from food manufacturing and transportation, and overfishing. There are also adverse environmental impacts from health care facilities.

Hospitals use large quantities of electricity and fossil fuels and produce medical wastes. Overpopulation due to reduction in mortality from starvation or disease stresses the environment by increasing use of land fossils, clearing land, generating pollution and waste, and so on.

People with lower socioeconomic status have greater exposure to detrimental environmental conditions in their homes or at work, such as lead , mercury, or smoke produced by factories. It is important to consider vulnerable subpopulations when drafting and implementing environmental health regulations.

A vulnerable subpopulation is a group with an increased susceptibility to the adverse effects of an environmental risk factor due to age, genetics, health status, or some other conditions. Some recourses should be used disease prevention programs, such as environmental protection, public health, and health education, as prevention is more cost-effective than treatment.

The synergistic approach of the animal health, public health and environmental specialists, and for application of their knowledge at a local, national and global level, will contribute to the constant and simultaneous improvement of public health and animal health worldwide.