French replaces French
Dr. Diyar Tayeb Barwari
27/6/ 2024
The Frenchwoman Dr.Monique Elliott leaves the organization and is replaced by her compatriot, Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran.
During the 19th Conference of the General Assembly of the World Animal Health Organization, which took place at the end of May of this year. A secret ballot was held to elect the Secretary-General of the Organization, who will hold this position for a period of five years. At this stage, Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran won the position of Secretary-General of the organization for the period 2024-2029, succeeding her compatriot Dr. Monique Elliott, thus becoming the eighth Secretary-General of this organization.
Dr. Emmanuelle Soubeyran is the head of the French delegation to the organization and holds the position of chief Veterinary officer in France, and is Vice-Chairman of the Foot-and-Mouth Committee in the European Union. She has been working in this field since 1990 and specializes in veterinary public health and epidemiology. She led France in managing epidemic crises such as Blue Tongue disease and bird flu. She was also an advocate and encourager of adopting the principle of one health in France and in the world.
What draws attention to Emanuela’s administrative ability is that during the period 2016-2021 she headed Vet Agro Sup, an educational and research institution consisting of three institutions: (the National School of Veterinary Medicine in Lyon, the Agricultural School in Clermont-Ferrand, and the National School of Veterinary Services).
Dr. Monique Eloit assumed the position in 2016, and during her eight years of work she left a legacy, as she improved cooperation between organizations and stakeholders to combat animal diseases, and also supported capacity building for international Para veterinarian in the field of global veterinary medicine and in animal husbandry associations, monitoring and follow-up operations have been active to implement the organization’s constitutions and activate the animal disease registration program World Animal Health Information System .
It is worth noting that Dr. Monique, who was the General Director of Veterinary Medicine in France at the time, had succeeded the French Dr. Bernard Vallat. Bernard Vallat, who led the organization for fifteen years.
It is not necessary to mention France’s historical and continuing role in veterinary medicine and veterinary services in the world, as it established the first school of veterinary medicine in 1761 in the city of Lyon, as well as being one of the leading countries in education and scientific research in this sector. It owns active governmental institutions, private institutions, laboratories and factories that are at the forefront of vaccines and medicines in the field of animal health in the world. Animal production, improvement in animal species, and the food industry are among the developed fields in the world, and it is a country that is almost a reference in this regard. France owns large numbers of animals, including (47 million pets, more than 17 million heads of cows, more than 7 and a half million heads of sheep, and it owns about one million heads of goats, which represent 10% of European Union statistics, And 850 thousand heads of horses, which ranks first in Europe, and Europe leads in the number of organic poultry birds with about 13 million birds.
We mention this news as a reminder of the change in the main interfaces of the institutions that supervise, follow up and improve the institutions’ achievements and work to develop them. The ability of new blood to bring about change is more likely than the same people remaining in the position. This statement is without a doubt, is also effective in governmental institutions. As new minds bring new ideas that serve the organization and to achieve its goals.
Iraq was and still is a member of the World Organization for Animal Health, and a member of its general assembly, and is committed to participating in its activities and effectiveness and adhering to its constitutions and decisions. Going to the global dimension by consolidating the relationship with the World Organization for Animal Health is considered one of the most important components of the development and revitalization of veterinary services and the expansion of livestock and food production in Iraq. There are promising opportunities in this field and investment in it, and there are local requirements and government policies that all point in this direction.
