World Veterinary Year 2011

Closing Ceremony World Veterinary Year Vet – 2011

Start: 13 Oct 2011 15:00

13 October 2011
AFRICA IS CALLING YOU!

Come on an awe-inspiring Congress Safari to South Africa in 2011.
WORLD VETERINARY CONGRESS 2011 IN CAPE TOWN, 10-14 October, promises to be the proverbial pot of gold at the end of the South African rainbow nation.
This prestigious event will welcome veterinarians, para-veterinarians, other health-care professionals and their families from Africa and around the world to South Africa’s premier tourist destination city.
The theme "CARING FOR ANIMALS: HEALTHY COMMUNITIES" lends itself to fulfilling a global need and sets the scene for a varied, stimulating, multi-session scientific and professional programme, to cater for the diverse needs of a multi-disciplined veterinary profession. With more than a century of organised veterinary science, South Africa has an important role to play in the dissemination of knowledge across the continent and the globe.
The focus will be on food production, safety and security as well as disease control in communities served by the veterinary profession. The continuing professional development needs of veterinary clinicians will also be comprehensively catered for. This will be the most extensive veterinary scientific showcase ever offered in Africa.
World Veterinary Congress 2011 will be held at the world-class Cape Town International Convention Centre, nestled at the foot of Table Mountain.
The social and accompanying-persons programme will include day trips in and around the breathtaking Cape Peninsula, flanked by the frigid Atlantic Ocean on the west and warm Indian Ocean on the east, as well as to world-renowned vineyards. Pre- and post-Congress tours guarantee a taste of the scenic splendour, cultural diversity and unrivalled wildlife heritage that South Africa can offer its visitors. All this, together with 320 days of sunshine per year will have you planning your next African adventure!
On behalf of the South African Veterinary Association, hosts of the 30th World Veterinary Congress and the Congress Organising Committee, I extend an invitation to come and experience the warmth and renowned hospitality of Nelson Mandela’s rainbow nation.
Dr Anthony Erasmus
Chairman: World Veterinary Congress


The World Veterinary Year was officially proclaimed January 24, 2011, in Versailles, France, where King Louis XV had given Bourgelat creation, Lyon, the first veterinary school in the world.

Dr Bernard Vallat, Director General of World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) gave a speech, for the 700 participants from around the world, centered on the future of the veterinary profession. In his speech he stressed the particular importance of communication for the recognition of the role of the profession. This speech is online.

The OIE is associated with a communications campaign that will run throughout the year including the completion of six television spots produced with the invaluable support of the European Union, soon available in 23 languages, each describing the diversity of the work of veterinarians: research scientist in crisis management, through to food safety or animal care.

These spots are already available in English on the new OIE website under "For the media" and will be broadcast on various media including online EUTube and Youtube. In addition, the OIE has launched with its partners a global photography contest illustrating the relationship between the animal and the veterinarian on the Internet: http://www.vetsinyourdailylife.org/. Spot a launch video was also produced and is available on the OIE website.

The campaign celebrating 250 years of the veterinary profession will be spread over much of the year and will close at the 30th World Veterinary Congress in Cape Town, South Africa October 14, 2011.