SOCIETAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF VETERINARIANS AS ESSENTIAL SERVICE PROVIDORS
Humans and animals have shared the same eco-system from time immemorial. But in the process of co-existence, human activities have over reached the limit that nature could sustain. Now it is her turn to avenge. The countdown has just begun with Corona pandemic engulfing countries worldwide- be rich or developed or developing or under developed without discrimination. Undoubtedly every one of us is worried about health and safety with public health holding the center stage in all walks of life. This said, the public health issues emanating from present Covid-19 outbreak has thrown a challenge to medical public health and veterinary public health professionals to control outbreaks arising from transmission of animal diseases to humans. While dealing with the subject we have to think of human – animals bond because it has been estimated that approximately 65-70% animal diseases have jumped to human population –both bacterial and viral- from all animal groups including wildlife.
Why Veterinary Public Health is IMPORTANT:
The joint Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO), World Health Organization (WHO) and World Animal Health Organization (OIE) defined Veterinary Public Health (VHP) as “a component of public health activities devoted to the application of professional skills, knowledge and resources to the protection and improvement of human health.” This definition as a whole denotes that all activities on mother Earth are primarily directed towards human welfare – leading to man and animal conflict. It has been appreciated that VHP manned by veterinary professionals contribute to strengthen the surveillance of and response to all communicable diseases which may emerge as public health threat.
https://www.pashudhanpraharee.com/veterinarian-response-to-the-covid-19-crisis-5/
Role of Veterinarians:
Veterinarians are the first and best first line responders against animal diseases that could threaten public health. They protect the health and welfare of livestock and pets and other companion animals and prevent zoonotic diseases ranging from rabies to avian flu. They play key role in responding to bioterrorism like anthrax attack. Veterinarians also safeguard our food of animal origin through food safety measures. Veterinarians are crucial to the development of new drugs both for humans and animals. They find new ways to diagnose, treat, and prevent health disorders in all species. Given this backdrop, unfortunately, the veterinarians are seldom given due importance or trusted to take part in public health deliberations in the country particularly in Odisha when “One Health One Medicine” concept has become an accepted vision for Universal Healthcare. Therefore, “One health is a logistic systems approach to understanding health across all species. It is a recognized fact that human and animal health is inextricably linked and ‘one health’ concept is about how to improve and defend the health and well-being of all species with the cooperation of physicians and veterinarians.”
The importance of veterinary professionals and their competence to handle public health issues jointly should be given top priority in current scenario or that may arise in future. Sadly the present day deliberation about zoonoses is limited to rabies control program. School curricula do not include a chapter on zoonotic diseases which could otherwise make the students better enlightened on public health issues in a community. Significantly ‘One Health’ concept is just not about zoonoses but should be seen in a broader perspective such as, sustainable development, global trade, travel, climate change and more importantly livelihood implications. It is imperative that policy maker should understand that the role of veterinary professionals is just NOT limited to treatment of animal diseases or their prevention but have a definitive role for realization of all round national development.
It is welcome that the government of Odisha has lately recognized the Department of Animal Resources Development as an essential service department. This act of government will act as a motivational force. At last the veterinarians got due recognition as partners in nation building and place in the comity of public health professionals as equals.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4299976/
Dr. D. N. Mohanty
Retired Veterinarian
