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Integrating Environmental Health into One Health: A Call to Combat Plastic Pollution
On World Environment Day 2025, the World Veterinary Association (WVA) urges global health and environmental leaders to fully integrate environmental sustainability into One Health strategies. Ahead of the upcoming negotiations toward a global treaty to end plastic pollution, the (WVA) emphasizes the need to strengthen the environmental pillar of the One Health approach in policy and practice. Plastic pollution is a clear example of how environmental stressors directly and indirectly affect animal, human, and ecosystem health.
Announcing the WVA/MSD Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarships 2024 winners
The World Veterinary Association (WVA), in collaboration with MSD Animal Health, is proud to announce the 2024 recipients of the WVA/MSD Animal Health Veterinary Student Scholarship Program. Now in its 8th year, the program received over 600 applications from across the globe, highlighting the increasing need for support among veterinary students and the strong reputation the program has built. This year, 40 veterinary students from Asia and Oceania, Africa, the Middle East and Latin America have been awarded scholarships of $5000 USD each.
WVA Veterinary Education Working Group Releases Updated Veterinarian’s Oath and Position Statement on CMPD
The World Veterinary Association (WVA) Veterinary Education Working Group has published an updated Position Statement Continuing Education and Professional Development (CEPD) and a revised WVA modelVeterinarian’s Oath.
TIME Makes Historic First: Veterinarians Debut on 100 Most Influential People in Health List
TIME Magazine has, for the first time, debuted veterinarians in its 100 Most Influential People in Health list—marking a significant milestone for the veterinary profession and its growing impact on global health.
Humans, animals and environment
One Planet – One Health
“I want to welcome you to access the World Veterinary Association website. In it, we want to show who we are and what we do to be the voice of the global veterinary medicine. We want to be recognized, respected and trusted to influence worldwide in our task to improve animal health, animal welfare, public health and the environment, in short, for the good of humanity, animals and our planet.
The WVA is a federation of veterinary associations based on the respect for diversity that makes us stronger. Mutual collaboration and solidarity are our signs of authenticity. And science, education and advocacy are the instruments to achieve our goals.
For a global association like ours, communication is essential. But this communication must be bidirectional, so I want to encourage you, dear guest, to send us your ideas through our contact section or any other way.
Thank you for the time you spend visiting our website, now and in the future.”
Dr. Rafael Laguens, WVA President
WVA Position Statements
Animal Welfare
14 May 2025
Welfare Across Aquatic Animal Environments
Humans share the world with millions of species that live in or near aquatic habitats. The wellbeing and survival of many of these animals, whether invertebrates or vertebrates such as fish, amphibians, reptiles, aquatic birds, and mammals, depend on aquatic environmental conditions consistent with those which prevailed in the natural ecosystem in which each evolved.
Veterinary Profession and Education
11 May 2025
WVA Model Veterinarians’ Oath
The primary purpose of the Veterinarians’ Oath is to formally commit new veterinarians to the ethical and professional standards of the veterinary profession. It is most used to swear in new veterinarians upon their entry into the profession, typically at or immediately following graduation from a veterinary educational establishment. This oath serves as a pledge to uphold ethical principles, acknowledge professional responsibilities, build public trust, commit to lifelong learning, and promote a global perspective on animal and public health.
Veterinary Profession and Education
10 May 2025
WVA Position Statement on Implementing Veterinary Continuing Education and Professional Development
The World Veterinary Association (WVA) encourages any organisation or institution that provides Continuing Education and Professional Development (CEPD) programs, to: • Build upon and supplement the Day-One Competencies obtained in institutions of higher education that confer veterinary or veterinary para-professional qualifications; and, • Provide documentation for individuals to use for ongoing licensure or registration.
Veterinary Profession and Education
20 Apr 2025
WVA Position Statement on Veterinary Statutory Body
The World Veterinary Association holds that all veterinarians and veterinary para-professionals should be subject to the authority of the Veterinary Statutory Body (VSB) or equivalent Veterinary Professional Authority (VPA), which is established under the law of the jurisdiction or territory within which they practice or support the practice of veterinary medicine. An autonomous VSB/VPA, which may be known by a variety of different names, such as council, college, association or board, is necessary to ensure delivery of quality veterinary services. The VSB/VPA must be supported by legislative authority, function independently, and regulate all veterinarians and veterinary para-professionals within its jurisdiction.