Welcome message by Dr. Tjeerd Jorna

Each year is very important for the World Veterinary Association (WVA), but the year 2013 is a special year, for WVA will have existed for 150 years. WVA was founded in 1863 by John Gamgee in Hamburg, Germany as a veterinary congress organizing body. In 1959 the name WVA was given to the organisation for the Association became more professionally oriented.

The main issues for WVA are Animal Health, Animal Welfare, Public Health, Veterinary Education and Life Long Learning, Development and Environment/Climate.

The Chamber of Veterinary Surgeons of the Czech Republic has got the mandate to organise the World Veterinary Congress in 2013. They will organise the WVC in a beautiful congress centre in Prague, the capital city of the country. They are sufficiently experienced to organise a world congress as they have organised congresses previously on a global level. This gives the board of WVA much confidence that it will be a congress to which the global veterinary family will look forward to.

To organise a World Veterinary Congress will give us the opportunity to meet not only as veterinarians from all disciplines with scientists, their new scientific work and opinions, but also to meet global organisations involved in veterinary issues like OIE, FAO, WHO and other important stakeholders. As for myself, it would be a successful congress if the global veterinary organisations could be involved, with respect to their independence for organising their own world congresses.

During the Congress, WVA will have their Presidential Assembly. This is the platform, where the members can discuss their own organisations and the global issues the veterinary profession is involved in.

I do hope that until the time of the Congress many more national associations can become member of WVA. We have to work hard to make this possible.

As the President of WVA I wish the Czech Chamber a good and prosperous route to go and look forward to welcome all of us in 2013 in Prague for the benefit of the veterinary profession.

12 September 2009

Dr. Tjeerd Jorna

Former President of the World Veterinary Association (WVA)