World Veterinary Day 2024
Veterinarians are essential health workers
27th April 2024
The World Veterinary Association (WVA) and HealthforAnimals are proud to announce the 2024 World Veterinary Day theme:
Veterinarians are essential health workers
The 2024 World Veterinary Day will be held on the 27th April 2024 and is an opportunity tocelebrate the contributions of veterinarians to the health of animals, people and the environment.
WVD is celebrated each year on the last Saturday of April with a topic chosen by the WVA Councillors.
The theme of 2024
Veterinarians competencies must be regarded as an essential and integral part of health at large. The application of veterinary science contributes not only to animal health and well-being but also to humans physical, mental and social wellbeing.
This dimension of the veterinarians’ work often remains invisible to the society but protecting and improving the health of people and their communities is an essential part of the vet profession.
All graduated veterinarians have unergone comprehensive medical training, and regardless of their professional area of practice, are responsible, for promoting public health and food safety and security.
The veterinary science core domains include, among many others, diagnosis, surveillance, epidemiology, control, prevention and elimination of diseases; containing antimicrobial resistance; management of health aspects of laboratory facilities and diagnostic laboratories; biomedical research; health education and extension; and production and control of biological products and medical devices; food production; management of domestic and wild animal populations, protection of drinking water and the environment, and management of public health emergencies.
Increasing the links between human and animal medicine is urgently needed.
The WVD Award 2024
Applications are now open for the World Veterinary Day Award, which honors one WVA Member’s activities related to 2024’s theme. The deadline to apply is the 30th June 2024. The WVA Member Association that organizes activities that best embody this year’s theme will be recognized with the World Veterinary Day Award.
Provided by the World Veterinary Association and HealthforAnimals, the Award is open to all WVA Member Associations who submit evidence of activities that demonstrate their support of the WVDA 2024 Theme. This can include local campaigns, educational seminars for the public, media campaigns, new research, and more! The Award value of USD 5000 will be provided directly to the Association, which may use it for activities, reward hard-working staff, provide scholarships, support their community, etc.
Why apply
- Showcase your Association’s efforts to the world
- Improve the visibility of the veterinary profession worldwide.
- Receive a prize of USD 5000
- Receive the award a ceremony in your country/region/virtual or at the WVA Congress.
Selection process
Eligibility
The WVD Award is open to all WVA member associations. WVA associations are encouraged to celebrate the World Veterinary Day 2024’s theme with collaboration with any other entity.
Applications
Must be done through this application form (https://worldvet.org/wvd-award/) by no later than 30th June 2024. Applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
Evaluation criteria
The WVD 2024 Award will be given to the veterinary member association that best promotes the theme of “Veterinarians are essential health workers”. WVA will consider activities that took place recently, are still ongoing or are planned to take place in the near future.
Main criteria for evaluation
- Contribution and achievements on the WVD 2024 theme
- Involvement of relevant stakeholders and the general public
- Collaboration with the public health sector
- Media coverage
- Follow-up initiatives
Examples of activities (non exhaustive list):
- Identification and implementation of good practices, programs related to the WVD 2024 theme.
- Seminars, webinars, and workshops for veterinarians/physicians/public health workers on the theme.
- Publication of studies, statistical data, and surveys related to the WVD 2024 theme.
- Education sessions for the general public during or in the lead up to WVD 2024.
- Celebrate the works of a notable researcher or veterinarian on the WVD 2024 theme.
- Create an online source containing general information about the WVD 2024 theme.
- Concerts, public performances, fairs, virtual events etc. organised for the WVD 2024.
- Media involvement such as newspaper articles, radio and tv discussion on WVD theme, etc.
- Social media campaigns dedicated to WVD 2024.
- Distribution of promotional materials that elaborate on the theme.
- Other relevant initiatives!
