Animal Health Takes a Team: Fostering Collaboration for a Healthier World

 

 

Professor Dr. Salah Mahdi Hassan

Consultant Specialist and Poultry Health and Production Expert

 

On World Veterinary Day 2025, the theme “Animal Health Takes a Team” carries a powerful message emphasizing the importance of teamwork in protecting both animal and human health. This theme reflects the fact that animal health care is not the sole responsibility of veterinarians, but requires the concerted efforts of many stakeholders, including farmers, scientists, policymakers, and society as a whole.

 

The Importance of Animal Health

Animal health plays a pivotal role in:

1. Public health: Many zoonotic diseases (such as hemorrhagic fever and avian influenza) are transmitted from animals to humans, making veterinary care an essential component of epidemic prevention.
2. Food security: The health of food-producing animals (such as cattle and poultry) directly impacts the quality and availability of food.
3. Animal Welfare: Ensuring good health care for domestic and wild animals promotes welfare and preserves ecological balance.

 

Why does animal health require a team?

Achieving optimal animal health requires collaboration among several stakeholders:

 

1. Veterinarians; They are the cornerstone of disease diagnosis, treatment, and prevention, but they cannot work in isolation.
2. Breeders and owners: They represent the first line of defense in monitoring animal health and reporting any signs of disease early.
3. Researchers and scientists: Develop vaccines and medicines and provide scientific data to improve veterinary practices.
4. Governments and international organizations: Establish laws and policies regulating animal health care, such as the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

 

5. Civil society :Raising awareness of the role of animal health in protecting the environment and public health contributes to creating a collective awareness of the importance of cooperation.

 

Challenges Facing Teamwork

• Lack of coordination among stakeholders.
• Limited resources in some regions.
• Lack of awareness of the importance of One Health, which links human, animal, and environmental health.

 

How can we enhance collective action?

1. Strengthen partnerships between the public and private sectors.
2. Raise community awareness through media and educational campaigns.
3. Invest in scientific research and modern technology.
4. Exchange expertise between countries to address global challenges such as climate change and emerging diseases.

In conclusion, the theme of World Veterinary Day 2025 reminds us that animal health is a collective responsibility. Only through cooperation can we build an integrated health system that protects animals, people, and the planet. Let us work together as one team for a healthier and more sustainable future for all.