World Veterinary Day is a globally recognised event which highlights the veterinary profession and its contribution to the health of both animals and humans. This year it takes place on Saturday 30 April and is themed 'Continuing education with a One Health focus'.
Launched in 2000, World Veterinary Day was created by the World Veterinary Association (WVA) to highlight and promote the crucial work performed by veterinarians around the world. Each year a different theme is chosen, this year the event focuses on ‘One Health’ and the opportunities available for vets to continue their training and extend their expertise.
In the evolving world of science and medicine, continuing education is crucial to professional development; it ensures veterinarians keep updated with latest developments, skills and new technologies required to enable them to carry out their role efficiently and to be able to safe guard health risks to both animals and humans.
Continuing with the ‘One Health’ theme, World Veterinary Day actively promotes collaboration with the human health sector, and will cover topics such as zoonoses, food safety and antimicrobial resistance.
To coincide with World Veterinary day, the WVA and the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) are organising the World Veterinary Day Award 2016 to reward the most successful contribution by the veterinary profession on the 2016 theme. The deadline for entries is 10 May 2016.
For further information on World Veterinary Day and the 2016 Award, see the WVA website.