Eastern Mirror Desk
Dimapur, April 27: Members of the Nagaland Veterinarians’ Association (NVA) observed World Veterinary Day, on April 27, at the Chumukedima Police Complex in Chumukedima in Dimapur. The slogan for the World Veterinary Day is ‘Value of vaccination.’
Addressing the veterinarians as guest of honour, the advisor for Law and Justice Dr. Longriniken urged them to work for the betterment and uplift of the economy of the state. He urged them to work for farmers and those engaged in farming and animal husbandry. He advised also that they ought not to forget to see that the rights of animals are respected.
Seeing the value of animals, the legislator said that the veterinary profession is seeing ‘an increase in the state’ and acknowledged the present veterinarians for their ‘hard work in making it possible.’
Also, Longriniken said there is a need to educate the public about the importance of animal husbandry and also to respect the rights of the animals.
“In the past veterinarians were looked down as compared to other professions. But in the future veterinarians will become one of the most demanded profession, provided everyone works with sincerity and dedication,” the legislator said. He hoped that in the near future, the union would be ‘more united and sincere.’
A special guest of the event was advisor for Animal Husbandry and Veterinary Services, R Khing.
In his address to the gathering, Khing said that service of a veterinarian was in is treating a patient that cannot speak about their problems and pains. Yet, veterinarians are such that they can analyse and cure the animal the needs cure, he said.
He believed that to be a veterinary doctor was one of the most difficult professions and greatly admired their hard work and determination to heal pains and suffering of their patient who are never able to express their pain.
Further, the legislator encouraged the newly graduated veterinarians not to only seek white collar jobs. It is the right time for new graduates to rise up and be ‘an eye opener and to set examples’ that white collar jobs are not the only way to earn a living.
An associate professor at School of Agricultural Science and Rural Development, Dr. Catherine Rutsa, also gave a short speech on the slogan for World Veterinary Day. She said vaccines are possibly one of the ‘most prized tools’ in a veterinarian’s kit box. In the history of modern medicine, she said, vaccines have emerged as the most powerful tools to offer protection against deadly dieses in both human and livestock.
“Vaccines are considered to be the greatest marvels of science because of its simple and easy application, sustainability and they are affordable,” Rutsa said.
“The vaccination of livestock, poultry birds, and companion animals can reduce the risk of human exposure to zoonotic pathogens, protect the health of animals, reduce prevalence of life threatening diseases, safeguard livelihood of farmers and reduce the need of antibiotic usage,” Rutsa said.
