Veterinary Medicine Forum launched

Muscat, May 22

The Veterinary Medicine Forum themed 'One health and sustainable development 2024' was launched under the auspices of Dr Saud bin Hamoud al Habsi, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Water Resources, in Muscat on Wednesday.

Present on the occasion were senior officials and other dignitaries. The event saw the participation of over 200 professionals working in veterinary medicine. Khalfan al Sharji, Director-General of Livestock, stated that this forum is an important opportunity to gain knowledge, exchange experiences, and learn about innovations and technological developments in animal health and veterinary services of Oman. He highlighted that animal health and the veterinary profession hold significant importance due to its social and economic impact.

Al Sharji said to regulate the animal health system there are rules and regulations, which are continuously updated, along with the infrastructure comprising clinics, laboratories, and veterinary quarantines spread across governorates. He added that there are diligent efforts to develop these legislations, infrastructure, preventive programmes to protect livestock from diseases.

These efforts have resulted in improved animal health and veterinary services, with the livestock population reaching approximately 3.9 million heads in 2023. The number of fixed government veterinary clinics was 69, in addition to the veterinary hospital in Salalah and 41 mobile veterinary clinics. Around 4.477 million heads of animals were vaccinated in 2023, and about 2.9 million heads were treated.

Moreover, the number of private veterinary establishments, including clinics, pharmacies, and laboratories, exceeded 445. Al Sharji emphasised the important role of veterinary medicine in the "One Health" approach.

Al Sharji pointed out that the Covid-19 pandemic and zoonotic epidemic diseases have increased the importance of this approach. He mentioned the significant disparity between developed and developing countries in the level of veterinary services and animal health, which poses a challenge in combating diseases globally.

Developed countries must contribute to raising the level of veterinary services and health programmes in developing countries, requiring international coordination and cooperation to address challenges like zoonotic diseases and antimicrobial resistance.

The forum included several discussion sessions that covered topics such as veterinary services and society, biological biosecurity, investment, and sustainable development. These sessions discussed the development of veterinary services in Oman, the ethics of the veterinary profession, antibiotic resistance, and the importance of Oman's membership in regional and international veterinary organisations and networks. The participants in the third session discussed the role of veterinary medicine and food security to achieve the goals of Oman Vision 2040.