Federal MP tours veterinary hospital to discuss issues related to the veterinary profession
09 Mar 2023
Image (L-R): Dr Diana Barker and Dr Ananda-Rajah MP
The Australian Veterinary Association recently invited Dr Ananda-Rajah MP, Federal Member for Higgins, to discuss issues surrounding the Australian veterinary profession.
Dr Ananda-Rajah spent time with Dr Diana Barker (AVA Board member) and Dr Kristen Steele (Senior Advocacy Officer, AVA) touring Evervet Veterinary Hospital, to better understand the inner workings of a veterinary practice and discuss concerns that affect all veterinary hospitals and veterinarians – including a One Health approach to the proposed Centre for Disease Control (CDC).
As a clinician-scientist, infectious disease specialist and general physician for 13 years at Alfred Health, Dr Ananda-Rajaj understood the importance of adopting a One Health model for the CDC which considers human health, animal health, and environmental health as fundamental.
More than 60 per cent of emerging infectious diseases are zoonotic, including SARS-CoV-2 – resulting from disease spill-over from animals, Japanese Encephalitis and Monkeypox.
A One Health approach will provide an integrated approach to disease management that bolsters our preparedness and response to emerging infectious diseases.
The AVA thanks both Dr Ananda-Rajah and Dr Diana Barker for their time and consideration to assist the veterinary profession to solve current challenges which impact animal health and welfare and public health and safety.