Forum discusses veterinary practices and ethics of profession

The Sultanate is free of any epidemic diseases related to livestock, especially after its success in combating Crimean haemorrhagic fever (Congo fever) through strict control and observation processes in barns and slaughterhouses, confirmed participants of Veterinary Medicine Forum held on Wednesday at Sundus Rotana, Muscat. The two-day event was held under the auspices Dr Fuad bin Jaafar al Sajwani, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, with the participation of 200 veterinary doctors and specialists in livestock health from public and private sectors as well as from World Organization for Animal Health (OIE). It aims at developing veterinary work system and veterinary profession in the Sultanate, and emphasising on the principles and ethics of the profession, in addition to discussing investment in the field of veterinary medicine. Dr Ahmed bin Nasser al Bakri, Under-Secretary of the Ministry, said that the forum serves as a gathering for all veterinarians, whether in governmental or private sectors, pointing out that “this year we have set up a meeting agenda to discuss the role of the ministry in protecting veterinarians and protecting humans against diseases transmitted by animals, after it was found that 70 per cent of human diseases come from the animal.” He mentioned that the ministry works to enhance its partnership with private sector in order to upgrade the profession and provide services at the highest level. “Prevention, vaccination and expansion in the number of veterinary clinics, have been a concern for the ministry. We currently have 68 public veterinary clinics and 29 mobile clinics. The next period will witness PDO supplying the third batch of mobile veterinary clinics” Al Bakri announced, confirming that the Sultanate has 3.5 million heads of cattle to be vaccinated according to prior plans. Sulaiman bin Mohammed al Salami, Director General of Animal Resources, delivered a speech in which he stressed that animal health and the veterinary profession are essential pillars in the development of livestock. He also released figures like the number of livestock in 2017 which stood at 3,501,000 heads. In terms of veterinary services, the number of government fixed veterinary clinics in the same year amounted to 68, in addition to the veterinary hospital in Salalah. While there were 29 mobile clinics, 8 more others are being prepared. Besides, private veterinary clinics and pharmacies counted more than 140 institutions. Also, the number of vaccinated doses given in 2017 was (3,554,744) of different vaccines, treated animals were (2,069,451) heads. Dr Ghazi Yahya, Regional Director of (OIE), said that the most important element in protecting health of the global community is controlling biological hazards to ensure animal health and food safety, including animal diseases transmitted to humans through food sources. “Many parasites, bacteria, viruses and poisons are also important biological hazards, plus chemical hazards which include residues of veterinary and chemical drugs (PCP, dioxins) or environmental contaminants (heavy metals)” he elaborated, pointing that many of the risks threatening food safety arise in pre-slaughter or pre-food processing while preparing it for consumption.