WORLD VETERINARY DAY 2023 CELEBRATED

29 April 2023

Viashakh 09, 1945

  Department of Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services and The Goa State Veterinary Council jointly celebrated World Veterinary Day 2023 at Hotel Fidalgo, Panaji today. The event was held to commemorate the valuable contributions of veterinary professionals worldwide and to recognize their role in safeguarding animal health and welfare.

This year’s theme was “Promoting Diversity, Equity and Inclusiveness in the Veterinary Profession”. The event was graced by eminent dignitaries, including the Chief Guest, Shri. Nilkanth Halarnkar, Minister for Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, Factories & Boilers, who lit the ceremonial lamp. Dr. V. Candavelou, IAS, Principal Secretary (Finance), and Shri. Sarpreet Singh Gill, IAS, Secretary Animal Husbandry, were also present.

Shri. Nilkanth Halarnkar informed that Goa is the first State in India to be declared as a rabies control state and expressed pride in the achievements of the Department of Animal Husbandry. The Department has formulated schemes for large and small animals, and veterinary facilities are being constructed throughout the State to offer the best service to the public. The government has implemented a policy of prevention, segregation, isolation and treatment of affected animals to control the outcome and all preventive measures are taken to control vector-borne diseases.

Dr. V. Candavelou, IAS, Principal Secretary (Finance), emphasized the need for veterinarians to come out from their routines and diversify their roles. He advised them to guide their juniors to be ready for the future, where the role of veterinarians will grow.

Shri. Sarpreet Singh Gill, IAS, Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry assured all support for veterinarians in all their endeavors and congratulated them on World Veterinary Day.

Dr. Murugan Appupillai, Director, Education, Mission Rabies, appreciated Goa’s model of eliminating rabies and called for other states to adopt it. He noted that with systematic vaccine strategy and awareness, rabies can be controlled and people should support the government in fighting the rabies virus.

Veterinarians were also felicitated at the hands of Minister Halarnkar for their exceptional contributions to the field of veterinary.

Dr. Agostinho Misquita, Director and Ex Officio Jt. Secretary, Department of Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services welcoming the guests highlighted the significance of World Veterinary Day 2023. Dr. Veena Kumar, Registrar, Goa State Veterinary Council, proposed a Vote of Thanks and expressed gratitude to all participants for their valuable contributions.

Dr. Deepak Patil, Director of Research and Dean, PG Studies, Kamdhenu University, Gandhinagar, Gujarat conducted the technical session.

DI/NB/AXP/UB/2023/493