World Veterinary Day Recognizes Veterinarians’ Role in Prioritizing Sustainability
AUSTIN, Texas (PRWEB) April 28, 2018 -- Saturday, April 28, marks World Veterinary Day, a time to celebrate the profession and recognize the positive impact veterinarians have on animals, humans and the environment. The World Veterinary Association (WVA) and the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) choose a theme each year. This year they have selected “The Role Of The Veterinary Profession In Sustainable Development To Improve Livelihoods, Food Security And Safety,” which emphasizes the important role veterinarians play in creating sustainable animal husbandry practices, thereby ensuring there are sufficient resources for generations to come.
“It’s important to recognize the vital part veterinarians play in maintaining a sustainable ecosystem,” said Aaron Rainer, DVM, MPH, who practices at and is a founding partner of Animal Emergency Center of Temple-Belton in Temple, Texas, and serves as president of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (TVMA).
Developing sustainable livestock production processes is crucial given the growing world population and increase in demand for animal protein. Other global challenges that veterinarians tackle include the deterioration of the environment, emergence of zoonotic diseases and scarcity of natural resources. The veterinary profession addresses some of these systemic issues by preventing and controlling domestic and foreign animal disease outbreaks, which helps ensure people have access to safe and sufficient food. Veterinarians also protect rural economies by ensuring the marketability of livestock across interstate and international lines.
But veterinarians don’t accomplish these tasks on their own; they take on the One Health approach, which encourages the collaborative efforts of multiple disciplines on the local, national and global level to achieve optimal health for people, animals and our environment.
“The One Health relationship between human health, animal health and the environment is an incredible approach to a comprehensive, well-rounded way of achieving what I think we’re all after,” Dr. Rainer said. “That is, it provides the link for all of us to live happy, healthy lives together.”
Animal owners can learn more about the intersection of public and animal health by visiting TexVetPets.org, the association’s veterinary professional-written and peer-reviewed pet health information website. TexVetPets.org offers veterinarians an opportunity to educate the public on animal health issues and how they intersect with the health and welfare of humans and the environment.
About the Texas Veterinary Medical Association
Founded in 1903, the Texas Veterinary Medical Association is a professional association composed of more than 3,700 veterinarians committed to protecting public health, promoting high educational, ethical and moral standards within the veterinary profession and educating the public about animal health and its relationship to human health. For more information, call 512/452-4224 or visit http://www.tvma.org.
Dena Goldstein, Texas Veterinary Medical Association, http://tvma.org, +1 5124524224, [email protected]
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