Continue to safeguard public health

WORLD VETERINARY Day 2021 is being celebrated on April 24 with the theme ‘Veterinarian response to the COVID19 crisis’. This theme highlights the increasingly devastating public health and socio-economic impact brought on by the pandemic, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), also referred to as COVID19. This global catastrophe has no doubt changed lives and negatively impacted livelihoods, particularly of our farmers and agricultural workers. The ongoing COVID19 crisis has triggered action across all government sectors, private sector and society in general, forcing all to adapt to new ways of engaging in our day-to-day activities.

Our veterinary medical professionals continue to play an integral role in public health as it relates to the prevention, detection and control of emerging and re-emerging diseases such as COVID-19. It has long been known that 60 per cent of known human infectious diseases have their source in animals (whether domestic or wild), as do 75 per cent of emerging human diseases and 80 per cent of the pathogens that could potentially be used in bioterrorism. Due to their diverse training in animal health, veterinary public health and epidemiology, veterinarians are ideally placed to respond to increased zoonotic threats in collaboration with their colleagues in human health.

I am advised that some of the factors leading to the emergence and re-emergence of diseases globally include:

- Enhanced global transportation, globalisation of travel and trade; - The effects of climate change and global warming;

- Human and domestic animal encroachment into wildlife habitat, resulting in exposure of humans and animals to wildlife; - The global, illegal wildlife trade in endangered and exotic animals.

As a direct result of the COVID19 pandemic, there has to be more acceptance of the fact that human health, animal health, and the environment are inextricably linked. In light of the specific challenges posed by these continued global threats, the importance of the ‘One Health’ approach involving human and animal health, agricultural and environmental experts cannot be overemphasised. We must, therefore, offer our support to organisations such as the World Organization for Animal Health, the World Health Organization and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as they collaborate with veterinarians to improve human and animal health and address global health crises.

As these emerging and re-emerging events continue to be associated with outbreaks posing severe consequences for animal and human health for all countries, including Jamaica, I am fully aware of the critical role the Veterinary Services Division, veterinarians and veterinary paraprofessionals continue to play in safeguarding against these diseases. This they continue to do through their direct involvement in disease surveillance and monitoring activities, giving professional advice to farmers and animal owners, and collaborating with their human health counterparts in disease investigations. In this regard, closer collaborations are needed between veterinarians, physicians and other public health professionals.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, our own veterinarians, both in government and the private sector, not only put themselves on the line to continue treating our livestock and pets, but they also help in reassuring their own clients in keeping safe and adhering to protocols.

On the occasion of the World Veterinary Day 2021, I encourage our veterinarians in the Veterinary Services Division, the membership of the Jamaica Veterinary Medical Association, all our veterinarians and veterinary para-professionals to continue their efforts in safeguarding public health.