Nationwide Veterinary Association Recognizes the Efforts of All Veterinarians Worldwide in the Fight Against COVID-19 Pandemic with a Certificate of Achievement

December 29, 2020 — 

Although primarily a human disease, COVID-19 has highlighted the increasing importance of a cross-sectoral approach to public health that aligns with One Health principles. As veterinarians, we are well-acquainted and trained to such an approach and already play a key role in protecting public health on a daily basis, during both times of peace and times of trouble. We protect the world's food supply, prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases that impact both animals and humans, ensure vaccines and drugs are safe and effective, perform epidemiological investigations of human and animal disease outbreaks, promote and preserve the human-animal bond, and much more. [Source: AAFSPV]

However, in what will likely become the greatest public health crisis in a century, veterinarians across the globe can be found rising to the occasion and going above and beyond the call of duty to use our unique and comprehensive skill sets to protect and save the lives of both humans and animals during the coronavirus pandemic. Examples include but are not limited to:

• Donating essential materials from veterinary pet hospitals such as personal protective equipment and ventilators
• Developing effective public health interventions and assisting with the tracking and surveillance of human and animal disease
• Ensuring the safety of our food supply while working with producers and government officials to identify solutions and respond to the impacts the pandemic has had on our food production systems
• Offering essential care to both companion and food animals while implementing appropriate precautions to protect the health of patients, clients, and veterinary staff

Each year, the American Association of Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarians (AAFSPHV) recognizes a veterinarian's outstanding accomplishments in the fields of veterinary food safety and public health with the Food Safety Veterinarian and Public Health Veterinarian of the Year awards. According to the AAFSPHV Executive President, Dr. Donna DeBonis,"This year is exceptional in so many ways, and so must be our award. "

In honor of the extraordinary work of veterinarians before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic to protect and preserve public health, the AAFSPHV is pleased to announce that we will be honoring ALL veterinarians, across the globe, with our 2020 Food Safety and Public Health Veterinarian of the Year awards.

Dr. DeBonis states, "This Certificate of Achievement can be downloaded from http://www.aaphv.org/ and is suitable for display and framing in the veterinarian's office. We extend our sincere gratitude to our colleagues for a job well done, knowing that many challenges still lie ahead. And no one is better suited to rise up to these challenges in partnership with our human and environmental health counterparts than the veterinary profession. Thank you for your efforts and keep up the great work!"